The steel deflectors found on ball screw nuts are a critical element of the finished product. At Steinmeyer, we precision-machine all of our steel deflectors, then perform final hand-finishing during assembly to ensure a perfect fit.  Not only does this deliver exceptional integrity of the deflector shape, but also a seamless transition from the deflector to the nut thread.  The result is the smoothest running ball screw you can buy.  And this means lower noise and vibration as well as higher efficiency and lifetime.

The special process used to manufacture the machined deflectors is unique to Steinmeyer.  It’s just one of the ways Steinmeyer drives to be second to none in ball screw quality and performance.

The Steinmeyer name is known globally for commitment to quality and workmanship.  We have nearly 500 staff members at our headquarters focused on the design and production of the world’s finest ball screws.  In this series of posts, we explore how Steinmeyer’s quality commitment shapes the production process at every step. Let’s begin by highlighting a key technique — hard turning of ball nuts.

Steinmeyer through-hardens all nuts, and then performs final turning of the thread and pilot diameter in a single step.  Not only does this deliver exceptional integrity of the thread profiles, but also optimum alignment of the thread to the nut body.  The result is the smoothest running ball screw you can buy, thus delivering:

• Higher efficiency and longer lifetime
• Lower noise and vibration.

This is just one of the unique processes that positions Steinmeyer ball screws above the rest. In part 2 of this series, we’ll explore the advantages of Steinmeyer machined deflectors.

There has been a tremendous amount of innovation lately in the design of medical devices and lab instruments. One of the critical aspects of the new products being developed is linear motion.  And Steinmeyer is proud to be directly involved in providing drive solutions to our cutting-edge customers.  We currently have several on-going applications involving wearable pumps driven by ball screws, and I wanted to share some of the specifics.

Implantable medical devices naturally place extreme requirements on size, materials, lifetime, and reliability.  These constraints drive up cost and complexity.  Incorporating all of this function into a single implantable is extremely challenging.  Not only that, but servicing the pump requires major surgery!

One solution is to break down the system into two components—one implantable and one wearable.  The implantable component handles minimal functionality and consists simply of a balloon. The wearable component enjoys much looser design requirements. In the projects we are working with, a wearable pump is used to drive compressed air through a catheter that passes into the body.

A wearable pump offers the advantages of being small, quiet, and very reliable.  That is where precision ball screws come into play.  Steinmeyer offers standard miniature screws in diameters 3 to 16 mm. The diameter typically required for this application ranges from 8 to 12 mm. Custom products can be developed as well for applications that need it. Steinmeyer ball screws also feature our proprietary super finishing process, called optiSLITE.  This improves the surface quality of the shaft threads for reduced friction torque, quieter operation, and longer life.

We are excited to introduce yet another innovation in our portfolio of precision screws – the optiSLITE miniature ball screw. These screws feature reduced friction torque and smoother running. The result is an even better positioning solution for applications in the semiconductor, optics, medical instrument, and metrology sectors.

optiSLITE ball screw shafts undergo a proprietary finishing process in their final step of fabrication. As you can see from these before and after SEM images, uring almost of the micron-sized defects on the raceway are removed. The result is a 40% reduction in friction torque!In turn this provides smoother running and enables greater servo accuracy.

optiSLITE ball screws offer dynamic delivery of linear motion at high standards of precision and longevity, like all Steinmeyer products. The screws feature shaft diameters down to 5 mm and pitch down to 1 mm. They are available in all standard lengths and nut designs.

Contact a Steinmeyer engineer to learn more about Steinmeyer premium ball screws.