Linear Guide and Ball Screw

[Patrick]

Hello need help,

I've used the traditional lower capability linear guides which are round, those with bushings, some with linear lame bearings and so on. but I've never used a real ball screw.

There is a "ridgid bearing" side and a "floating side."

I have a low backlash flexible coupler from the motor to the ball screw, but I don't know which end gets which bearing?

[HiVi]

Rigid bearing is at motor, which is coupled with flexible coupler to ball screw. floating side bearing is at non-driven side of ball screw

As load is introduced, the ball screw will deform. With fixed ball bearing at motor side you prevent from loading internal motor bearings.
Floating bearings just center the ball screw at end and allow for axial deformations due to mechanical or thermal load.

There are also other considerations. The ball nut should be oriented with flange away from fixed ball bearing and motor.
Also, if load is always bigger in one direction, it is always better to have ball screw in tension, so you prevent possibility of buckling deformations.

[klugesmith]

Are you guys old enough to remember the crash of Alaska Airlines Flight 261?

[HiVi]

Old enough, yet born in Europe, so too far to really know about it.
What did you want to tell with it?

Lubrication for mechanical systems is same as insulation for electrical. If you do not take care of it, people may die.