September 2002

newsletter
+ Products +++ Applications +++ News +++ Technology +

feature article
Editorial
Wear Protection for Ball Screws
Improved Protection From Contamination Plus Sustained Lubrication By: Alexander F. Beck
Extends Life of Ball Screws
By: Alexander F. Beck, George A. Jaffe

Staying competitive in the global mar-

ketplace places great demands on production
equipment. Today’s machines routinely ope-
rate on a 24/7 basis with little, if any, down
time allowed for routine maintenance. This
means substantially greater demands on ma-
chine components, especially drives.
Machine tools are part of this trend with
their increased metal removal capability and Everybody these days is expecting
versatility in terms of complete machining. the upturn in the economy. It has been
Achieving greater productivity through redu- forecast for quite some time, but each
ced machining time means higher accelerati- time the forecasts of the past turn out to
ons and higher cutting, as well as rapid traver- be overly optimistic, new forecasts are
se, speeds. This increased speed places grea- released that push the expected upturn
ter demands on linear drives. Furthermore, the into the following quarter, or even the
fine particles generated in high-speed cutting following year. There have been a
and dry machining of hardened or other exo- number of attempts to compare the
tic materials present a new challenge to wear economic slowdown with previous
protection. ones, hoping this would help explain
why this and that happened, or did not
happen. So, is it really going to happen,
the upturn? And when?
Longevity no longer depends
solely on rated load capacity I think it’s useless to join the large
Protecting ball screws from coolant and debris is essential to extending life number of people predicting the
recovery to happen in a certain way, at
a certain time. We all know that
applied load. Two other factors must now be re is more mixed friction due to the lower rela-
Precision ground ball screws continue to recessions are more or less normal. They
considered when designing modern high speed tive speeds. This is the result of inclined con-
be the preferred drive mechanism for machine come and go, leaving analysts with the
machines – lubrication, and wear from conta-
tools. Their compact design, economical cost problem of explaining why their
mination.
and high efficiency are key advantages, espe- previous explanations didn’t work.
cially for high-speed machines. However, lon- What is more important, the industry
gevity of drive screws no longer depends so- always has to deal with the problems of
lely on rated load capacities in relation to mean The adverse effect of these either insufficient, or excess capacity. In
wear factors is premature either case the goal is to address it in the
best way possible. Take the example of
failure from loss of preload the semiconductor industry: They really
can’t be surprised with fluctuations of
their markets. No matter whether the
excursions up and down are self-
For steel balls rolling between ground induced or not, businesses in this sector
steel surfaces, there are generally three possi- must be able to deal with them - that’s
ble types of friction: Without any lubricant in the only way they can survive. It’s not
between, there is direct contact or so-called quite as bad in the machine tool
solid friction. In the presence of lubricant, the- industry, but bad enough. When all is
re is either a constant oil film between ball and The shape of the wiper segments has to said and done - what counts is how soon
race (elasto-hydrodynamic or EHD friction) or precisely fit into the surface of the screw you catch the trend, and then take the
a mixture of oil film with some direct contact thread necessary measures to deal with it in a
(mixed friction). Compared to other machine smart way. Cut cost, but do not destroy
components, such as deep groove or angular too much capacity, or crank up output
tact lines – similar to angular contact ball bea-
contact ball bearings (or even plain bearings), without letting costs explode. And better
Ball Screws in machine tools are often rings – which cause twisting, and also by the
ball screws exhibit a considerably higher de- stay competitive all over. That’s the
exposed to unexpected contamination ball returns where balls no longer roll uniform-
gree of sliding and twisting. Furthermore, the- name of the game, and those who play
ly. Another factor is sliding friction between
it better than others will have fewer
continued on page 3 problems.

In This Issue
Feature Article: Difficult Choice Events: New Products:
Wear Protection for Ball Made Easy 4 IMTS 2002 5 High-Lead Screws 4
Screws 1 METAV 2002 6 Cooled Nuts 8

Technology: Success Story: Columns:

Single Nuts vs. The Art of Carving Turbine Editorial 1 Visiting:
Double Nuts 3 Blades 2 Impressum 4 Hohenzollern Castle 7

newsletter 1
September 2002
+ Products +++ Applications +++ News +++ Technology +
success story
The Art of Carving Turbine Blades
Swiss Liechti AG Launches „g-Mill 550“ During German METAV Show
When it comes to machines that produ-
ce complex 3-D surfaces in blades or “blisks”
(bladed disks) used in aircraft engines, Liechti
Engineering AG of Langnau, Switzerland, is
one of the world’s premier sources. Liechti
has several decades of experience in this field,
and at the recent METAV show in Duessel-
dorf, Germany, they launched their new pro-
duct, the g-Mill 550. This machine has been
specifically designed for the most complex
milling jobs, and it was worth stopping at
Liechti’s booth to see this awesome piece of
engineering at work.
The g-Mill 550 is a world’s first from the
blade-machining specialists located in
Switzerland’s Emmental area, a region known
worldwide for an entirely different product
(the famous “Emmentaler” Swiss cheese). This
newest machine made a significant impressi-
It’s not easy to tell which of
the design details caught the
eye first.
on on all visitors to the booth, not only those
in the jet engine business. If you know about
the difficulties of 5-axis machining at high me-
tal removal rates, you could learn something
here.
The image shows the rigid, yet lightweight structure of the
slanted monobloc gantry (photo courtesy of Liechti AG)
As the center piece in a booth whose dis- steel into a turbine blade. Besi-
play suggested that something very high-tech
was happening, the g-Mill 550 was shown car-
ving a turbine blade out of a block of stainless
steel, a job the engineers at Liechti call an easy
one. It’s hard to tell which of the many unique
design details of the g-Mill 550 caught the eye
first, so let’s start with the unusual shape of
the machine. The Liechti slanted monobloc
gantry design utilizes a gantry supporting the
X and Y-axis in a closed frame for optimum
stiffness, slanted 20° forward towards the ope-
rator. The Z-axis slide runs on a set of rails
inclined 20° as well, perpendicular to the slan-
ted gantry, so that the foremost position of the
Z-axis puts the enormous B-axis rotary table
2 newsletter
newsletter
Liechti Engineering AG
The company was fonded in
1865. Since 1910, Liechti has
built machine tools, first lathes,
then knee mills. Since 1983 the
company specializes in
machining centers, and the
“Multimill” with 5 axis was the
first machine tool specifically
designed for machining turbine
blades.
Among Liechti’s customers
today are leading firms in the
aircraft engine and power
generator business, such as GE
AIRCRAFT ENGINE, PRATT &
WHITNEY, MTU, SIEMENS
POWER SYSTEMS, and others.
www.liechti.com
The stunning dynamics of the g-Mill 550 caught attention during this year’s METAV show “As a result we are getting machining
times that outperform the best of our competi-
tion by 30%”, said Ralph Liechti, the brains (and
at a relatively low position for airfoil require the whole work soul) behind the firm’s R&D team. “Simulati-
easy operator access. And the piece to pivot around a point
„We are on has shown that the g-Mill 550 is hard to beat
slanted design close to the surface being ma- in terms of productivity and economics. With
makes the cor- outperforming the chined. Since the tool’s speed this new machine, we are proving our lea-
ner between best of our along the given path has to dership.”
gantry and Z- competition by stay high, the table must
axis foot much make fast moves to compen- Liechti emphasizes that the machine only
stronger - that’s 30%.“ uses the best of components, and comes with a
sate for the distance between
why it’s called work pivot point and the ac- 24-month warranty. His company provides
monobloc. The- tual mechanical pivot of the worldwide service and user support. The soft-
re is unobstruc- A and B-axis table. That’s ex- ware package “Turbosoft CAM” is also availa-
ted visibility of the work area actly what is so demanding about a turbine ble to better utilize the outstanding mechanical
from two sides, front and right, blade job. Besides the stunning dynamics of properties of this machine tool.|
and part loading with the com- both linear and rotary axes on the g-Mill 550
bined tool and parts changer is that allow the machine to contour at 1 g acce-
from the left hand
side. Perfect – LIECHTI g-Mill 550
when you see this
design you won- Max. blisk diameter 550 mm
der why all hori- Max. blade length including
zontals are not fixturing 550 mm
built this way! (with tailstock 350mm)
But when
the machine star- Travel:
ted moving, ever-
ybody standing X, Y, Z 600 mm
there stopped A > 360°
thinking about the B +70°... -250°
strange styling
and just stared in
disbelief as the Feed rates and accel:
five axis system
X, Y, Z 50,000 mm/min
swung the work
to transform a pie- 1g
ce of stainless
A 200 rpm
des the slanted design it’s the 4,500°/sec²
axis drives that make this machi- to 25,000°/sec²
ne so remarkable.
A blisk used in the Eurofighter’s jet engine - a good
On the X-axis, dual ball B 60 rpm
example of what the g-Mill 550 is capable of doing
screws support loads from the 7,000°/sec²
milling spindle regardless of the
y-axis position. Single ball screws drive the Y- leration and 2,000 ipm linear speed, Liechti has Main spindle 15,000 rpm
axis and Z-axis. All screws are direct coupled a smart solution to the Tool Pivot Point (TPP)
183 Nm
to the servo-motors. Both the A- and B-axis concept – the machine includes a sideways
are direct drive using torque motors, which adjustment of the A-axis (called the V-axis) to
means there are no timing belts or gear drives move the pivot point closer to the tool tip. This Tool changer 50 pockets
to limit acceleration or accuracy. added feature not only reduces X-axis moves (97 or 144 optional)
during contouring of blisks, but also reduces
When machining turbine blades, the pro- tool length for blade machining.
blem is that leading and trailing edges of the
September 2002
+ Products +++ Applications +++ News +++ Technology +
People
Wolfgang Kloeblen, Chief Engineer,
Steinmeyer GmbH & Co. KG
Mr. Kloeblen has almost two de-
cades of engineering and R&D experi-
ence in the field of frictionless bearings
and ball screws. A graduate of the Uni-
versity of Stuttgart, Germany, he holds
a degree in mechanical engineering. In
1994 he joined Steinmeyer as head of the
Engineering and R&D team.
Among the responsibilities of his
team are the translation of customer re-
quirements into specific designs inclu-
ding all manufacturing drawings and
specifications, defining inspection pro-
cedures, and standardization of parts.
His second duty is overseeing
Steinmeyer’s activities in the field of pro-
duct development and testing. And, be-
cause of his vast expertise, he is often
called by customers who need his expert
advise regarding ball screw applicati-
ons.
Mr. Kloeblen is member of the
DIN comittee for ball screws.
Wear Protection...
continued from page 1
balls due to the absence of retainers. Ball chains
or plastic spacers meant to reduce friction bet-
ween adjacent rolling balls are subject to de-
sign limitations, because the ball chain still has
to pass through returns.
Ball screws are usually sized based on
the Hertzian pressure of an applied load and
the number of load cycles experienced (the clas-
sic L10 life equations). The applied load causes
material fatigue over time. This is reflected in
the equation commonly used to calculate life
expectancy:
3 Life of cutting tools is extended with hard
C 
L 10 =  a  ⋅ 10 6 Revolutions
 Fm 
One might conclude that with a reduc-
tion of the mean equivalent load Fm in relation
to the dynamic load rating C a, a dramatic
increase in useful life is possible. This conclu-
sion may be valid for conventional, slower,
machines. However, for modern high speed
machines and the associated desired multi-year
lifetime, it is not valid because of two other
wear factors, abrasion and adhesion, that are
not included in the conventional life calculati-
ons. Abrasive wear occurs due to contamina-
tion inside the ball screw nut. Adhesive wear
occurs from microwelding – a result of lubri-
cant film breakdown.
The adverse effect of these wear factors
is premature failure from loss of preload. Be-
cause state of the art high dynamic servo drives
are very sensitive to changes
in friction, avoiding preload
loss becomes an even more
important issue.
To extend the life
Therefore, to extend the of ball screws,
life of ball screws, as required cleanliness and
in modern High Speed Posi- lubrication must
tioning (HSP) machines, cle-
anliness and lubrication to re-
be considered
duce abrasion and adhesion
respectively must be conside-
red, as well as dynamic load
capacity.
The impact friction
has on wear depends
on the degree of
separation of both
members through the
lubricant, and the
relative motion of
surfaces.
Wear in rolling
elements is comprised
of material fatigue as
well as abrasion and
adhesion
(microwelding).
Conventional life
calculations suggest
that material fatigue
is the only factor to
determine life.
Neither abrasive nor
adhesive wear is
factored in.
coatings or through the use of ceramic materi-
als. Ball screw life can be improved with better
sealing and lubrication.
It is normally not possible to cover ball
screws sufficiently to completely prevent con-
tamination from dust and finer particles. Wi-
pers have to seal the nut from such particles
that are often very abrasive. Regular, non-con-
tacting wipers (labyrinth seals) will not keep
small particles from entering the nut, because
there is a gap of several tenths of a millimeter.
Brush wipers also fail to effectively protect ball
nuts from such contamination.
Lip seals made from elastic materials are
substantially better. Similar to shaft seals, they
provide a tight fit. Because they typically inclu-
de just one lip that must slide on the screw sur-
face with considerable pressure to ensure tight
sealing, wear occurs. And in ball screws with
large pitch they may flex significantly in the
newsletter
axial direction, thus compromising their effec-
tiveness.
What’s the optimum solution? Segmen-
ted plastic wipers, that have se-
veral edges oriented at appro-
ximately right angles with the
direction of motion. The wi-
pers (mounted on both ends of
the nut) must fit closely, becau-
se their effectiveness depends
largely on the defined line con-
tact with the screw surface.
Segments have to be stiff enou-
gh to remove tough dirt from
the screw, but still flexible
enough to stay in contact through the spring
preload.
When specifying these, make sure that
wipers with protruding “fingers” do not come
in contact with elastic end of travel bumpers.
In such cases, flush mounted wipers are neces-
sary. Wedge-shaped segments, or beveled ed-
ges are desirable where large amounts of dirt
are present.
Wipers with the added ability to store
and distribute lubricant are becoming increa-
singly popular, especially as environmental re-
gulations on oil disposal become more restric-
tive. This type of wiper can reduce lubricant
consumption substantially yet still ensure pro-
per lubrication of the ball nuts. Even though
the amount of lubricant lost in such systems is
significantly lower compared to conventional
auto-lubrication systems, regular replenish-
ment of the reservoir is still necessary – and
close attention must be paid to cleanliness. As
a general rule, when the flow of lubricant is
reduced, sealing has to be improved, as flus-
hing of the ball nut with fresh lubricant no lon-
ger occurs.
Segmented plastic wipers together with
felt rings have proven to be an especially ef-
fective combination. The first “stage” in com-
bination wipers can be made from plastics with
the proper mechanical properties allowing the
desired line contact and proper guidance of
contaminants away from the screw. The se-
cond “stage” is a continuous felt ring that stores
the lubricant and distributes a thin even film.
Another advantage (besides the significant re-
duction in oil consumption) is these combina-
tion wipers can be used with any liquid lubri-
cant, oil or liquid grease. Liquid grease is par-
ticularly advantageous in applications with
short-stroke oscillating moves, or very low
speeds. Lubricant storage in the felt material
is up to 75% of its volume, and the reservoir
can be easily refilled.
As an added bonus, the felt works as a
second wiper absorbing any tiny particles that
may have gotten past the plastic wiper. This
feature is especially useful in applications with
fine, abrasive dust or sludge, such as grinding
As an added bonus, the felt
works as a second wiper
machines. Note however that felt cannot be
used alone as a wiper, except in relatively cle-
an conditions, as it will absorb coolant and par-
ticles. Used properly, felt ensures trouble-free
operation and enables a 90% reduction in lub-
ricant consumption, but only in combination
with a good plastic wiper.
Other products exist on the market com-
bining the two functions, sealing and lubricant
dispensing, within one polymer ring. But the-
re is at least one difference compared to the
combination wiper described above – the po-
lymer material requires heat to operate pro-
perly. The ring, impregnated with oil, forms a
seal around the thread, often aided by a spring
preload. The friction created by the plastic ring
rubbing on the rotating thread causes a tem-
perature rise in the material. This in turn al-
Spring-loaded plastic wipers either have
protruding “fingers” or are flush mounted.
lows the oil to flow out of the polymer. The
polymer is capable of re-absorbing some
amount of oil as it passes over the thread, but
there is no reservoir to refill. And, there is no
possibility to choose between grease and oil –
you must use whatever oil is in the plastic.
Substantial improvement in ball screw
life is possible, even in the most demanding ap-
plications, if sufficient attention is given to pro-
viding adequate lubrication and protection
from abrasive contamination. A combination
wiper with capability to store and replenish
lubricant, together with an effective finger type
seal, offers a significant increase in reliability.
The cost for this option is minor compared to
the downtime due to unexpected and prema-
ture failures. And, in some cases, long-term
lubrication or even “for-life” lubrication may
be feasible if the proper lubricant is selected.|
newsletter 3
September 2002
+ Products +++ Applications +++ News +++ Technology +
technology
Difficult Choice Made Easy
New CD-ROM Facilitates Selection of Ball Screws
Steinmeyer has released DesignTool, a
new software program for easier selection of
ball screws. It allows users to select ball nuts
step by step from a database, review techni-
cal data, and generate 2D or 3D drawings rea-
dy to be incorporated into their machine de-
sign. The new tool uses dynamic menus that
simplify the selection process.
With the vast variety of ball nut designs,
sizes and executions in Steinmeyer’s repertoire,
the task of presenting this information in a prin-
ted catalog has become increasing difficult, if
not impossible. Several hundred different part
numbers are shown in the latest catalogs from
Steinmeyer, and even insiders sometimes find
it challenging to find what they are looking for.
But it is essential that engineers have informa-
tion available when they start a new design.
Or when they are looking for a replacement
that fits into an existing design with little or no
changes to the surrounding parts.
To solve this dilemma, Steinmeyer engi-
neers developed the DesignTool software. It
makes the whole knowledge base available to
our customers, thus saving time and elimina-
ting the hassle of thick paper catalogs. Simply
by selecting diameter, pitch, nut shape, num-
Options, such as „UltraSpeed“ execution, are shown
only when available. Errors in the selection are
impossible.
New Products
Steinmeyer has launched its series 2426
and 2446 ball nuts with end-cap return. This
new ball screw product is aimed at the factory
automation market where fast motion together
with low noise is paramount. The refined end-
cap return system features two ball circuits for
dual-start screw design together with either
rolled or ground thread screws. Lead accura-
cy grades are T7 and T5 respectively. The end-
caps are manufactured from durable plastic
and incorporate both labyrinth and felt wipers.
Series 24xx allows high speeds with
relatively small motors - ideal for factory
automation
By impregnating the felt with oil or grease, a
low or even zero-maintenance operation is fea-
4 newsletter
Simple menus guide the user through the selection process. With each selection made, the
remaining choices narrow down.
ber of circuits etc., the user can
search through the entire databa-
se. With each selection made, the
number of remaining options nar-
rows until only one solution is left.
Even with no prior knowledge of
the product range with its nu-
merous detailed choices, the user
can find the optimum solution
with no trial-and-error. While in
the past certain sizes could only
be found in separate paper cata-
logs, with DesignTool the selec-
tion process is straightforward
and there are no “decision loops“.
sible, depending on the duty cycle and envi-
ronment.
The new Steinmeyer Series 24xx is
available with leads greater than half the no-
minal diameter (12 x 10) up to almost twice the
The new nut design features built-in dual
wipers, labyrinth and felt, for low-
maintenance operation
diameter (16 x 30). The smooth and vibration-
free operation enables speeds well above tho-
se possible for ball nuts with tube-type returns.
The new product line is offered - as usu-
al - in custom screw lengths with finished ends.
Available sizes are 12 mm (dia) x 10 mm (lead),
16 mm x 10 mm, and 16 mm x 30 mm. Vacuum
compatible materials and stainless steel are
optional.|
newsletter
Easy Selection: Design
Tool CD-ROM
The software allows selecting
from a database containing all standard
ball nut executions currently available
from Steinmeyer. It includes even tho-
se not listed in the printed catalogs. Fu-
ture releases are planned to allow de-
viations from standard dimensions and
will allow the user to design custom,
drop-in ball nuts that still comply with
feasibility rules.
Steinmeyer miniature ball screws
are shown with standard length and
journals.
DesignTool will run on Windows
98 ® and higher. All commonly used
CAD systems, both 2D or 3D, are sup-
ported. A built-in email feature allows
inquiries to be sent together with all sel-
ected data.
Steinmeyer offers a free update
service to registered DesignTool users.
Updated CD-ROMs are mailed to regi-
stered users as soon as they are released,
so each DesignTool user is certain to
have only current data – another advan-
tage over printed catalogs.
Visit www.steinmeyer.com or
call 1-800 297 6403 to order
your free copy.
However, the most significant advantage
is that users get information about dimensions
together with performance data using just a
few mouse clicks. They can even perform cal-
culations of stiffness or friction torque for cer-
tain preload values. Most important, only va- ful new tool to streamline their design process
lid data can be selected, and all numerical ent- of quickly and accurately incorporating high-
ries are checked against a range of recommen- end ball screw technology. DesignTool makes
ded values. a vast amount of specific product knowledge
available to the customer without time consu-
The development of DesignTool is an ming phone calls and application engineer vi-
important step towards closer collaboration sits. And, registered users are automatically
with customers. The Steinmeyer application kept current with the latest information and
team is proud of its superior technical support. available designs.|
With this CD-ROM our customers get a power-
pers, and the revolutionary cooled nut. At our
Events multi media display, videos on high-speed
screws and wiper design can be viewed, and
visitors will be able to try the new DesignTool
Software. Steinmeyer is located at booth 4266
From September 4 through September 11
(Lakeside building).|
the International Manufacturing Technology
Show will be held at McCormick Place in Chi-
cago. Steinmeyer participates this year with a
new show concept. While in past trade shows,
Schneeberger Inc., Steinmeyer’s U.S. distribu-
tor since 1993, displayed ball screws together
with their own product lines, the booth will be
split this time. Steinmeyer, Inc. will be respon-
sible for the presentation of ball screws - still
within Schneeberger’s booth, but using the
same corporate image concept as the German
headquarters.
Though considerably smaller than
Steinmeyer’s 1,000 square foot booth at last
year’s EMO show in Hannover, Germany, the
portion of the booth at IMTS that displays ball
screws will appear in Steinmeyer’s colors. This
change in the show concept occurs one year
after Steinmeyer, Inc. the Bedford, Massachu-
setts based Joint Venture of Steinmeyer and
Schneeberger, opened for business. It empha-
sizes our dedication to provide an equal de-
gree of customer service and support in the U.S.
as in Germany.
Samples of Steinmeyer’s ball screw lines
The multi media stands display videos and
- the DIN/ISO standard line with internal re-
let visitors try hands-on the new DesignTool
turn, and UltraSpeed nuts in both single and
dual start design will be on display. Show high- software.
lights include the new “quiet” ball screw with
end cap return, our unique combination wi-
September 2002
+ Products +++ Applications +++ News +++ Technology +
Joint Venture
Established To Sup-
port Steinmeyer in the
US Market
By: George A. Jaffe
In October 2001 a joint venture
was formed between Schneeberger Inc.
and Steinmeyer GmbH & Co. KG. The
new company, named Steinmeyer Inc.,
is located in Bedford Massachusetts, a
suburb of Boston. Mr. George Jaffe, for-
mer General Manager of Schneeberger
Inc., has been named Executive Vice
President. The charter of Steinmeyer
Inc. is to market, service and support
Steinmeyer products in North America
Our engineering support is pre-
dicated on establishing a close working
relationship with our customers to tho-
roughly understand all the important
aspects of the application. With this we
can interact most effectively with design
engineers and assist them in selecting
the right ball screw. Through the use
of Steinmeyer’s exclusive Design Tool
software, this selection process is grea-
tly facilitated. And, since over 90% of
the screws we supply are custom, we
utilize additional software programs to
quickly determine parameters such as
load capacity and stiffness as well as nut
dimensions.
The USA repair center is well
equipped to inspect and rework Stein-
meyer ball screws. The facility inclu-
des a lathe for checking idling torque, a
straightening station, various customi-
zed inspection tools, and large inven-
tory of precision steel balls for re-pre-
loading of nuts. Steinmeyer ball screws
in diameters from 16 to 63 millimeters
and lengths up to 1800 millimeters can
now be checked locally.
Schneeberger Inc., a supplier of
precision linear bearings and posi-
tioning tables, continues as the exclusi-
ve North America distributor for Stein-
meyer products, providing warehouses,
customer service and order processing.
Ball and lead screws for our major cu-
stomers are stocked in either the main
Bedford facility or in Los Angeles.
Steinmeyer, Inc.
11 DeAngelo Dr.
Bedford, MA 01730
Phone 1-781-275 6097
Fax 1-781-275 4749
Toll-free 1-800-297 6403
www.steinmeyer.com
technology
Single or Double Nut?
Part I: Inconsistent Definitions Cause Confusion - More Than
One Way of Building a Double Nut
Ball nuts are generally classified either
as “single” or “double” nuts. What seems to
be an easy distinction can actually be rather
tricky – definitions throughout the industry
are inconsistent, and what vendor “A” calls a
single nut may even be called a “double” nut
by vendor “B”. So what is the definition of
single or double nut, and what are the main
differences? Let’s shed some light on this.
If one takes the term literally, a double
nut is made of two separate nuts that are more
or less identical. The obvious purpose for this
is that the two nuts can be preloaded against
each other to remove any play. Conversely,
one might deduce that a single nut would then
be something that consists only of one nut, and
it is not preloaded. This seems to make sense,
and in the early days of ball screws it was ac-
tually true. But this has changed, and today
both the single and the double nut are availa-
ble with preload. So what is it that makes the
difference?
The next best guess would be to say that
double nuts are those made of two separate
pieces, joined one way or the other, while sin-
gle nuts consist of a single piece of steel. At first
glance this seems to be a good guess, but then
there are manufacturers – like Steinmeyer -
who build nuts from a single piece of steel and
still call them “double” nuts. And others say
they have single nuts that are basically the
same as double nuts, and that they offer same
or even better performance. So what is the se-
cret behind this, and why can’t the industry
find a common way of describing things?
Obviously there must be more to it than
just the question of whether there is more or
less a visible “seam” in the nut. What matters
are the balls inside the nut, and the way they
are put under load with no outside thrust on
the ball screw. Preload isn’t just there to eli-
minate play. Preload also helps build additio-
nal stiffness, and it keeps the nut centered on
A conventional double nut with
spacer. The spacer is typically split so
it can be removed for re-grinding.
Fitting keys keep the nuts from
turning relative to each other while the
nuts’ ground O.D. helps to keep them
aligned when installed in a bore.
the shaft (or the shaft centered inside the nut,
whichever you prefer). But the way preload is
achieved can actually make a substantial dif-
ference.
There are two ways to achieve preload.
One is for the nut to be permanently forced in
one direction, for example by gravity in a ver-
tical application. In case of this “gravity pre-
load”, balls are squeezed between one side of
the screw’s ball track and the opposite side of
the nut’s ball tracks. Hence the balls are in a
two-point contact situation.
newsletter
The second possibility is a ball nut that
is preloaded with oversized balls. While two-
point contact requires an offset between ball
tracks of nut and screw – in our previous ex-
ample, achieved because play is eliminated by
gravity load – oversized balls cause the ball
tracks of nut and screw to become aligned with
each other. The resultant contact orientation
depends on the shape of ball tracks. Semi-cir-
cular ball races result in a line contact and the
ball touches the races in a full line, causing
unpredictable results and increased friction.
More advanced ball screws therefore employ
a “gothic arch” profile where the thread profi-
le consists of at least two arcs with a radius
somewhat greater than the ball radius, offset
so the ball touches the races in two points. This
is true for both screw and nut, so there are four
contact points in total.
Regardless of how the force is genera-
ted that pushes the nut in one direction in or-
der to establish a two-point contact (through
gravity like in our example, or by pushing two
A Pair of UniLock nuts. Due to the absence
of any slots or holes to be aligned, nuts are
just preloaded against one another and then
locked by injecting a special resin into the
toothed grooves.
nuts away from each other by means of a
spring or spacer), the number of contact points
of each ball makes a major difference in how
the balls move and how they transmit loads
from nut to screw and vice versa. Therefore, it
makes sense to divide and define ball nuts ac-
cording to the number of contact points – two
or four.
Steinmeyer has elected to stick with this
definition and calls all nuts with four-point
contact “single nut”, and all nuts with two-
point contact “double nuts” even if they are
not of the split type. This definition makes sen-
se because it describes nuts from a performance
point of view, regardless of design details.
So what are the options? As we said ear-
lier, any two-point contact requires some sort
of axial offset between nut and shaft races. In
many cases this offset is achieved by using two
separate nuts that have some play. A simple
solution to eliminate this play and establish the
desired offset would be to just turn the two nuts
until they touch each other. Once the preload
is set, the nuts only have to be coupled so they
won’t come loose again. But now there’s a pro-
blem: The correct amount of preload must first
be set and then maintained. This requires two
things: a means to adjust, and a means to lock
the nuts together.
Various solutions have been developed:
Some double nuts use a spacer or shim inser-
ted between the two nuts. This shim can be
removed and ground to a certain thickness to
allow alignment of keyways in the nuts. Once
the correct preload is set with both keyways
aligned, a fitting key is inserted to fix the pre-
load. Other designs use spacers with a num-
ber of holes that allow pins or setscrews to be
inserted to couple each nut to the spacer. Ad-
justment of preload can then be done by adju-
sting the width of the spacer, or by adjusting
hole positions. All of these require extra time
and extra pieces.
A smarter way of locking two nuts toge-
ther is Steinmeyer’s UNILOCK system. It
makes spacers or shims obsolete by allowing
the nuts to be locked together in any position
that may result after the desired preload is set.
Simple grooves with knurled bottoms at the
face side of each nut are filled with durable
epoxy resin to form a toothed ring that keeps
the nuts from rotating relative to each other.
Another nut design (though not used
much anymore) utilizes a housing that holds
two nuts inside a bore, and fitting keys to keep
them from rotating. A ring screw is then used
to compress the nut package, usually against a
spacer that is undersized. Once the balls touch
the sides of ball tracks and start building resi-
stance the nut package can be compressed a
little further to the desired preload. This pre-
load is however different with regard to con-
tact angles compared to the method with an
oversized spacer described above. Based on the
contact lines it is referred to as “X” preload,
while the method with UNILOCK or oversi-
zed spacers is known as “O” preload. “X” pre-
load isn’t used any more because it reduces
angular stiffness of the nut package, and the
housing represents an extra part with toleran-
ces and space required.
Last, a special form of double nut with
housing is Steinmeyer’s series 1510 and 1530
for mini ball screws. This type uses a Bellevil-
le-type spring instead of a rigid spacer. It is
especially advantageous for small ball screws
with fine pitch because the spring keeps pre-
load constant regardless of nut position on the
The toothed UniLock grooves shown in
detail.
screw. The result is the idling torque can be
kept constant regardless of manufacturing to-
lerances or wear.
In the past double nuts with user adju-
stable preload were also available. They nor-
mally used a housing as well, but one of the
two nuts inside could be rotated by means of a
pair of setscrews, accessible from the outside.
Thus the preload could be re-adjusted without
any disassembly work. But it turned out these
nuts were troublesome - preload adjustment
was very sensitive and the nut could easily be
overloaded. In addition, they lacked stiffness
due to their internal construction. But the key
point to keep in mind is a properly designed
ball screw of suitable size, load capacity and
preload value normally doesn’t need any pre-
load adjustment.
To be continued...
newsletter 5
September 2002
+ Products +++ Applications +++ News +++ Technology +
events
Duesseldorf’s Machine Tool Show This Year’s Key Event in Europe
Duesseldorf is home to one of
Germany’s most important metalworking
shows. Over the years, the METAV has evol-
ved from a locally oriented show into one
of Europe’s more important events in the
machine tool industry. At METAV 2002,
about 1,200 companies presented their latest
products, covering some 73,000 square me-
ters of floor space.
Despite the slower economy, 64,000
visitors came to see innovations in the ma-
chine tool and factory automation industry -
not quite as many as during the previous
show in 2000 (67,500), but still a remarkable
number. Among the technological trends
shown this year, complete machining, modu-
lar machine designs, and multi-spindle ma-
chining drew most interest. One other high-
light, not quite new but still worth a stop,
were the latest developments in machines
with parallel kinematics.
Haas Automation To
Launch Mill Drill Cen-
ter at IMTS
High Speed Cutting (HSC), a key
phrase often associated with big, expensive
machining centers, means metal removal at
high cutting speeds, which requires fast axis
drives with high acceleration capability and
quick tool changeover. Haas Automation
demonstrates how such features can be built
into a compact and inexpensive machining
center. The new Mill Drill Center (MDC)
meets the criteria for a HSC machine tool,
and it is a true „Haas“ - straight forward in
design, compact, and easy to operate. And
no surprise, it’s affordable.
Targeting the typical job shop, the
MDC features a compact footprint with built-
in coolant tank, the easy-to-operate Haas con-
trol, as well as a 10,000 rpm, belt-driven, 15
HP vector drive spindle (15,000 rpm is availa-
ble as an option). Its axis drives use high
speed ball screws for a stunning 2,000 ipm
rapid speed and accelerations to 0.7 g. And a
fast, 24 pocket tool changer for 40-taper tools
with 1.5 seconds tool-to-tool time makes it a
true, state-of-the-art HSC machine.
One of the highlights of this new ma-
chine is its dual fixture station. It allows the
operator to load and unload parts during ma-
6 newsletter
METAV 2002
Steinmeyer was present with the latest in
ball screw technology. In particular, the combi-
nation wipers, a double wiper assembly with
segmented plastic wiper and a felt
wiper, was subject
to most inquiries
and questions. A se-
cond key interest
was the UltraSpeed
nut. Both were
shown in small vide-
os, brief but very in-
formative. Of cour-
se, Steinmeyer’s De-
signTool software
was on display as
well (see page 4 in
this newsletter).
But besides
providing informa-
tion about products
This is all you need for High Speed Machining: The
new HAAS MDC (photo Haas Automation).
chining time. Once machining is complete, the
servo-driven changer swings the new part into
machining position for almost un-interrupted
spindle time. Part changeover takes less than 1.5
newsletter
and services, the Steinmeyer
booth was once again a pla-
ce to meet with customers
and discuss the latest news.
Clearly the outlook for the
economic development ex-
pected for the rest of the year
was the subject to most talks,
and many worried visitors
were surprised to learn that
Steinmeyer is still busier than
most competitors - some-
thing we think has to do with
our continued efforts to pro-
vide better products at com-
petitive price levels.
The Steinmeyer booth
appeared again with its lar-
ge columns and overhead,
backlit logos - a sight visitors
to Europe’s key machine tool shows have come
to expect.|
seconds and maximum load capaci-
ty is 250 lbs for each part.
The machine is designed for
drilling, milling and (rigid) tapping.
Its work cube of 12“ x 10“ x 12“ (xyz)
is large enough for many jobs in the
typical job shop. The 92-gallon coo-
lant tank and the high-volume coo-
lant pump provide plenty of coolant
supply. Because the coolant tank is
integrated into the machine base,
moving and installing the machine is
as easy as it gets.
It is not a surprise to see such a
sleek, compact HSC machine from
Haas Automation. This is just what
you get when you build a HSC ma-
chine tool the „Haas way“: A simple,
modular design using well-proven
components. Haas engineers have
followed their strategy of developing
machines that meet the needs of the
vast majority of potential users, but
leaving out what’s not absolutely
necessary. Here they have packaged
everything into a small footprint,
compact machine that’s easy to ope-
rate, priced competitively, yet
powerful enough to significantly
boost productivity.
Expect to see this new machine at IMTS,
along with other developments from Haas
Automation, such as the new GR 510 gantry
router.|
Research on Ceramic
Materials For Use in
Ball Screws
Steinmeyer is proud to be a team
member on two recent scientific
research projects, both carrying
EUREKA labels. Both the „Rocosurf“
project, and its successor „Rocotrib“
focus on using ceramic materials.
Sponsored by the Swiss Commission
for Technology and Innovation (CTI),
a group of research organisations and
industrial firms performed a series of
laboratory tests on ball screws, linear
bearings, and high speed spindles.
Fundamental research on ball
screw kinematics and wear mecha-
nisms was mainly performed at the
ETHZ, the Swiss Federal Institute of
Technology of Zurich, Switzerland. Ex-
tensive modeling of the ball kinematics
in ball screws yielded interesting in-
sight in the typical behavior of ball nuts
with 2-point contact. Practical tests on
a test stand specifically developed to
examine the impact tribological effects
have on accuracy confirmed that cera-
mic materials have enormous potenti-
al for future improvements of ball
screws.
In a direct comparison between
conventional ball screws with steel
balls, and hybrid screws using ceramic
balls or steel balls with ceramic coating,
the advantages of hybrid construction
became obvious. By using a setup pro-
viding direct measurement of friction
and preload forces, the coefficient of
friction in the rolling contact was pre-
cisely determined. Hybrid material pai-
rings exhibited an advantage greater
than 50% compared to steel / steel con-
figuration. A second and third series of
tests focussed on life and wear of such
hybrid screws under various applicati-
on conditions. Steinmeyer is currently
conducting field tests to confirm the re-
sults.
HAAS Mill Drill Center
Travel:
X, Y, Z 12”, 10”, 12”
Axis speeds and accel:
Max rapid X, Y, Z 2,000 ipm
0.7 g
Max. cutting 833 ipm
Main spindle 10,000 rpm
(15,000 rpm optional)
15 hp
Max. torque 17 ft-lb
@ 4,600 rpm
Tool capacity 24 + 1
CT 40
Tool change time 1.5 sec
tool-to-tool
Dual load station:
Capacity 250 lbs each
Change time 1.25 sec
September 2002
+ Products +++ Applications +++ News +++ Technology +
visiting...
„The view from Hohenzollern Castle is
worth a long journey indeed...“. This quote
from German Emperor Wilhelm II describes
the excitement visitors to this castle experi-
enced in past centuries. Once they climbed
on top of the bastions and towers of this splen-
did castle, overlooking the valleys 1000 feet
below, and turned west, an unobstructed pan-
oramic view all the way to the hills of the
Black Forest greeted them on clear days.
The property of the last German
Emperor’s family for almost a thousand years
and still today, Hohenzollern Castle was initi-
ally built in the second half of the 11 th century.
The shape and appearance of this first castle is
The castle was destroyed in
1423 as a result of a family
dispute.
mostly unknown, but it must have been im-
pressive. Situated on the Zollern mountain, a
near perfect cone shaped by erosion at a few
hundred feet off the cliffs that mark the edge
of the Swabian Jura, the castle was seen as one
of the most beautiful in Germany for almost
The Yard with its gothic Palace invites visitors to rest.
400 years. But then it was destroyed in 1423 –
as the result of a family dispute!
Construction of a new, stronger castle
started in 1454. It was later turned into a forti-
fication by the addition of bastions, but it fell
into decay when it lost its military importance
after 1744. The “second life” of Hohenzollern
seemed to be over, and soon it was but a ruin.
It wasn’t until 1819, when Prussian
Crown Prince Friedrich Wilhelm IV visited the
Hohenzollern Castle
The Home of Prussia’s Kings Offers Spectacular Views
The view from „Zeller Horn“ shows this masterpiece of 19th century architecture in almost
an aerial view.
home of his ancestors, that the castle was sa-
ved from oblivion. He was so impressed that
he started dreaming of rebuilding
it. In 1850 he hired
architect August
Stueler, and soon
Hohenzollern be- The Palace is
came one of the home to a
most imposing
unique
castles again. And
today it is still im- collection of
pressive.
The castle
consists of two
parts, the Palace and the fortifica-
tion. With its many towers, the
gothic Palace is home to a unique
collection of arts started in 1952 by
Prince Louis Ferdinand of Prussia.
Among its treasures, that transport
visitors into past centuries, are
paintings, gold and silver artwork from the 17th
th
and 18 century and many artifacts from the
history of Prussia’s kings.
The castle is open to visitors year round
(with the exception of Christmas Eve). Gui-
ded tours that take about 40 minutes are availa-
ble for the palace and its many rooms and halls,
and the yard invites visitors to rest or walk
around and enjoy the magnificent panorama.
Food and drinks are available from the “Burg-
schenke”.
newsletter
Recommended Stay:
Hotel Brielhof
Right at the foot of the
Zollern mountain, the hotel
„Brielhof“ is one of the
premier places in the area.
Its restaurant also runs the
castle’s food place
„Burgschenke“.
For reservations and
further information, call
+49 7471/2345 or visit
www.brielhof.de
Brielhof is located right off
highway B27 at exit
„Hohenzollern“. From
Stuttgart airport, take B27
south direction Tübingen/
Rottweil. Travel time from
the airport is about 30
minutes.
If you want to avoid the crowds and still
enjoy a view of the home of Prussia’s Kings as
breathtaking as the panorama from its walls,
visit the “Zeller Horn”, a cliff of struction is mostly restricted to the valleys, so
white rocks just opposite the the plateaus are still home to herds of sheep.
castle that offers an almost ae- Many hiking trails - also great for mountain
rial view of this ma-
sterpiece of archi-
tecture. Those who
take the half-hour
walk from the par-
arts. king lot near the
“Zollersteighof”
are rewarded with
unsurpassed views
from the cliff. They experience
some of the most beautiful lands-
cape the Swabian Jura has to offer.
190 million years ago the
Swabian Jura was at the bottom of
an ocean, the sediment of which
forms this mountain range today.
The rock contains a high degree of
shells from clams, coral and other Hohenzollern’s bastions offer unsurpassed views.
marine life, so it is almost white.
The top layer, about 1500 feet thick, forms the
biking – lead to many of the typical white cliffs,
white cliffs for which the Swabian Jura is
often only minutes of walking time apart, but
known. Running southwest to northeast about
offering completely different panoramas of the
120 miles long and 30 miles wide, the moun-
surrounding valleys with their small towns and
tain range features heavily wooded slopes, dry
villages.|
heaths with juniper bushes on plateaus about
3000 feet above sea level, and romantic valleys
cut by small rivers into the softer bedrock. Con-
Hohenzollern Castle
The Castle is open year round, seven days a week, with the exception of Dec. 24.
It is privately owned, and portions of the buildings are still home to the owners.
There is an admission fee, and an additional fee for the guided tour of the
palace. Opening hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. during the summer season
(March 16 through October 15), and 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. all other times. A
shuttle bus (fee) is available to take visitors from the parking lot to the castle
entrance. Allow about 2 hours to visit the castle. Best travel time is May through
October.
For further information and a schedule of events, call the castle’s administrator at
+49 7471 9 35 00 or visit www.burg-hohenzollern.de.
There is a second castle of the Hohenzollern dynasty located in Sigmaringen, about
25 miles from Hohenzollern Castle. See www.hohenzollern.com.
newsletter 7
September 2002
+ Products +++ Applications +++ News +++ Technology +
newsletter
news

DIN 69 051 Updated

German DIN Standard To Reflect New Ball Screws Sizes For High Speed Machining

For years the German DIN 69 051 stan- a lead greater than 10 mm. The previous stan-
dard has been the guideline for machine de- dard, released in the 1980’s, wasn’t specific on
signers when selecting ball screws and spe- DIN 69 051 Stanard Nut Sizes (extract): lead, and manufacturers just extrapolated. As
cifying nut dimensions, accuracy grades and a result of this guesswork, they often came up
inspection methods. The fundamentals of Nominal Lead Body B.C.D. Bolt Holes Bolt Flange with dimensions that were not interchangea-
this standard have also been adopted by the Dia. Dia. Dia. x pl. Size O.D. ble among different makes. In some cases, nut
International Organization for Standardiza- mm mm mm mm mm mm body diameters and flange sizes of the next
tion (ISO) in the ISO/DIS 3408. And even bigger nominal size were selected, and in other
Japanese manufacturers offer product that is cases dimensions were just interpolated. This
compliant. Now DIN 69 051 is being updated 32 <=10 50 65 9x6 M8 80 uncertainty goes away with the newly released
to reflect the latest developments in high 32 >10 56 71 9x6 M8 86 2001-02 version of the DIN. The new DIN
speed applications of ball screws. 40 <10 63 78 9x8 M8 93 should be a big step towards true interchange-
40 >=10 63 78 9x8 M8 93 ability – especially for ball screws used in HSC
The DIN standard provided the industry 40 >=10 70 85 9x8 M8 100 machine tools.
with a strong tool for making ball screws in-
50 <=10 75 93 11 x 8 M10 110
terchangeable - at least as far as nut dimensi- Steinmeyer had already adopted the
ons are concerned. But whereas the outlines it 50 >10 75 93 11 x 8 M10 110 updated DIN sizes for its UltraSpeed line be-
defined for specifying performance data and 50 >10 82 100 11 x 8 M10 118 fore they were officially published, offering
accuracy grades helped the industry provide 63 <=10 90 108 11 x 8 M10 125 new sizes of ball screws to meet the needs of
some level of interchangeability, the sizes and 63 >10 95 115 13.5 x 8 M12 135 designers with respect to high rapid speeds,
nut interface dimensions have become an 63 >10 105 125 13.5 x 8 M12 145 thrust, and long service life. For example, the
obstacle to the latest advancements in ball 80 <=10 105 125 13.5 x 8 M12 145 nominal size 50 x 25 mm was modified to use
screw design. The reason is the small diame- 80 >10 125 145 13.5 x 8 M12 165 7.5 mm diameter balls instead of just 6 mm.
ters of the nut body were based only on inter- 80 >10 135 155 13.5 x 8 M12 175 The body diameter is now 82 mm. The gain in
nal ball deflector technology. But with ma- load capacity is an impressive 35% for a nut
chine tool speeds getting generally higher and with 6 turns. Another example is the size 40 x
with the resultant requirement for large-lead (new sizes shown in BOLD print) 40 mm. Under the old rules a body diameter
ball screws, ball nuts with returns spanning of 63 mm had to be maintained, leaving engi-
the entire nut length became necessary. Howe- neers with 6 mm ball sizes as their best choice.
ver, the lack of space inside a DIN/ISO nut Load capacities were low, often too low, and
envelope often made it impossible to use such due to the large lead/diameter ratio there was
ball returns together with suitably sized ball cult and expensive. And in some cases, the load latest ball returns that generally use a bore hole no possibility to add enough ball turns to meet
diameters. rating needed for high accelerations still could that spans the entire nut length, serving sever- the needs of modern, high speed machine tools.
not be achieved. al load ball turns in one circuit. With the new standard, a body diameter of 70
As a result manufacturers built nuts mm is possible, and the new UltraSpeed nut
with smaller ball diameters compromising In a new draft of the DIN, called E DIN These new, bigger nut sizes are availa-
ble as optional, heavy duty executions, with a from Steinmeyer with 7.5 mm ball size features
load capacities, and compensated for the lost 69051-5: 2001-02, this obstacle has been remo- a load capacity increase of 35% as well.|
load rating by adding extra ball turns. This ved. New, larger diameters have been defined choice of different nut body diameters. And,
not only resulted in more space consumption, for ball screws with large lead. Manufacturers the new DIN 69 051 for the first time defines
but it also made machining of nuts more diffi- are free to use larger ball sizes even with the nut diameters and flange sizes of ball nuts with

In The March 2003 new products Impressum

Issue:
Cooled Nuts newsletter is a publication of
Steinmeyer GmbH & Co KG, Albstadt,
Germany, and Steinmeyer, Inc., Bedford
Technology:
Thermal Insulation Key to Better Accuracy Mass., USA.

Oil Or Grease - How To Responisble for its content:

Select Lubricants Alexander F. Beck

Besides the adverse effect
A detailed discussion of
thermal expansion of screws can
lubrication methods and have on positioning accuracy, heat
lubricants for automatic, generated by ball screws in high
manual, or long-term speed applications also dissipates
lubrication into structural parts of machine
tools (e.g. tables, columns or sadd-
Single Or Double nut? les) causing thermal distortion.
Because such distortion is non-li-
Part II: What are the key
near and hard to predict, software
advantages of either preload compensation is almost impossi-
method? ble.
A common way of preven-
Rotating Nuts For High ting screw heat from causing ther-
Speed Axis Drives mal expansion is to either pre-ten-
Design considerations, sion screws using fixed bearings at
stiffness comparison, and both ends, or to use hollow shafts
lubrication solutions for with forced cooling. Using linear
advanced axis drives scales for position feedback is Steinmeyer’s Cooled Nut has coolant channels built into
another way of preventing thermal the nut body without increasing its dimensiuons.
expansion of screws from affecting Coolant ports are located on the flange.
Events:
overall machine accuracy. But keep
in mind that heat is generated in both screw and
IMTS Aftermath nut, but only the temperature change of the
screw will have a direct impact on the lead ac-
curacy. Heat generated inside the nut must also
Hanover Show 2003 be dissipated or else it will migrate into the
structure that supports the nut assembly.
Thermally insulating the nut from its
mating parts is almost impossible to achieve,
as a tight fit and large contact surfaces are desi-
rable for better stiffness and strength of the con-
nection. Thus, only cooling the nut to ambient
temperature will result in a thermally stable
condition. One way this can be achieved is by
building a water-cooled sleeve around the nut.
But such a solution requires more space and
the result is a less than optimum solution, be-
cause generally only the nut body, but not its
Send comments to:
editor@steinmeyer.com
August Steinmeyer GmbH & Co. KG
P.O.B. 10 03 28
72424 Albstadt
Germany
No re-prints in whole or in part without
our written consent. newsletter has
been carefully edited. No warranty for
missing or incorrect information.
Printed in Germany
flange can be cooled. And possible leaks are
another concern.
Steinmeyer has a better solution: Water
channels are incorporated inside the nut, wi-
thin its normal dimensions, so no changes to
mating parts such as nut blocks or saddles are
necessary. And, the water channels span the
entire length of the nut, running through the
flange as well to form a thermal barrier that
keeps the heat from migrating into the slide.
The cooled nut can be connected directly to a
water line, keeping additional cost to a mini-
mum.|

8 newsletter