© ISO 2003 – All rights reserved

ISO/TC 39 N 1415
2003-08-15
SNV

ISO TC 39/WG7 N 1409

Date: 2003-07-29

ISO/CD 3408-5

ISO TC 39/ WG 7

Secretariat: DIN

Ball screws — Part 5: Static and dynamic axial load ratings and
operational life
Vis à billes — Partie 5: Charge axiales statique et dynamique de base et durée de vie

Warning

This document is not an ISO International Standard. It is distributed for review and comment. It is subject to
change without notice and may not be referred to as an International Standard.

Recipients of this draft are invited to submit, with their comments, notification of any relevant patent rights of
which they are aware and to provide supporting documentation.

Document type: International Standard

Document subtype:
Document stage: (30) Committee
Document language: E

../.N 1415 ISO_CD_3408-5_(E)_2003_08.doc STD Version 2.1c

ISO/CD 3408-5

Copyright notice
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reproduction of working drafts or committee drafts in any form for use by participants in the ISO standards
development process is permitted without prior permission from ISO, neither this document nor any extract
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Requests for permission to reproduce this document for the purpose of selling it should be addressed as
shown below or to ISO's member body in the country of the requester:
ISO/ TC 39 Machine tools/ WG 7 Ball screws
Secretariat:
Normenausschuss Werkzeugmaschinen (NWM) im DIN
Martin Medler
Corneliusstrasse 4
60325 Frankfurt am Main
Germany
Tel.: +49 69 75 60 81 25
Fax.:+49 69 75 60 81 11
E-Mail: nwm@vdw.de

Reproduction for sales purposes may be subject to royalty payments or a licensing agreement.

Violators may be prosecuted.

ii © ISO 2003 – All rights reserved

 ISO/CD 3408-5

Contents Page

Foreword ............................................................................................................................................................iv
1 Scope ......................................................................................................................................................1
2 Normative references............................................................................................................................1
3 Definitions ..............................................................................................................................................1
4 Symbols..................................................................................................................................................1
4.1 Subscripts ..............................................................................................................................................3
5 Basic axial load ratings.........................................................................................................................3
5.1 Basic static axial load rating C0a .........................................................................................................3
5.2 Basic dynamic axial load rating Ca .....................................................................................................4
6 Modified axial load ratings ...................................................................................................................5
6.1 Modified static axial load rating C0am .................................................................................................5
6.1.1 Correction for surface hardness fh0 ....................................................................................................5
6.1.2 Correction for accuracy fac ...................................................................................................................5
6.2 Modified dynamic axial load rating Cam..............................................................................................5
6.2.1 Correction for surface hardness fh......................................................................................................5
6.2.2 Correction for accuracy fac ...................................................................................................................6
6.2.3 Influence of material melting process fm ............................................................................................6
7 Life ..........................................................................................................................................................6
7.1 Equivalent rotational speed and equivalent axial load......................................................................6
7.1.1 General ...................................................................................................................................................6
7.1.2 Ball screw with backlash between ball nut and screw shaft ............................................................7
7.1.3 Ball screw with preloaded ball nuts on screw shaft ..........................................................................8
7.2 Nominal life L or Lh ............................................................................................................................10
7.2.1 Ball screw with backlash between ball nut and screw shaft ..........................................................10
7.2.2 Ball screw with preloaded ball nuts on screw shaft ........................................................................11
7.2.3 Resulting life Lr ...................................................................................................................................11
7.2.4 Nominal life with reliability factor Lar or Lhar ...................................................................................11
7.3 Modified life Lm or Lhm .......................................................................................................................12
7.3.1 Ball screw with backlash between ball nut and screw shaft ..........................................................12
7.3.2 Ball screw with preloaded ball nuts on screw shaft ........................................................................12
7.3.3 Modified resulting life Lmr ..................................................................................................................12
7.3.4 Modified life with reliability factor Lmar or Lhmar ..............................................................................12

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ISO/CD 3408-5

Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies
(ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO
technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been
established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and
non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the
International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.

International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.

The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International Standards
adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an
International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.

Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.

ISO 3408-5 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 39, Machine tools, Working group WG 7.

This Committee Draft cancels and replaces all Working Drafts (ISO/WD 3804-5), the hole document has been
technically revised.

ISO 3408 consists of the following parts, under the general title Ball screws:

 Part 1: Vocabulary and designation :1991-06

 Part 2: Nominal diameters and nominal leads; metric series :1991-06

 Part 3: Acceptance conditions and acceptance tests :1992-06

 Part 4: Static axial rigidity

 Part 5: Static and dynamic axial load ratings and operational life

iv © ISO 2003 – All rights reserved

COMMITTEE DRAFT ISO/CD 3408-5

Ball screws — Part 5: Static and dynamic axial load ratings and
operational life

1 Scope
This Draft International Standard specifies the calculation schemes of static and dynamic load ratings and of
life to get comparable values for the design and use of ball screws.

The calculations have been based primarily on publications by Prof. G. Lundberg and
A. Palmgren (Acta Politechnica - mech. Eng. series Vol. I No. 3, Stockholm, Sweden, Part 7 - 1947).

The Draft International Standard is applicable under the following preconditions:

 elastic deformation of ball and balltrack;

 hardness of balltrack exceeds basically a minimum of HRC 58;
 conformity f r s and f r n > 0,5 ;

 the quality of steel of which the ball screw is made should be equivalent to that of ball bearing steel or
similar steel alloys;
 optimum lubrification is always provided.

2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced
document (including any amendments) applies.

ISO 3408-1:1991, Ball screws — Part 1 Vocabulary and designation.

ISO 3408-2:1991, Ball screws — Part 2: Nominal diameters and nominal leads - Metric series.

3 Definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO 3408-1 apply.

4 Symbols

Symbol Description Units

α Contact angle degrees, °
γ Geometry factor –
ϕ Lead angle degrees, °
ρ11, ρ12 , ρ 21, ρ 22 Reciprocal curvature radii mm-1

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ISO/CD 3408-5

Symbol Description Units

∆l Axial ball / ball track deflection µm
Ca Basic dynamic axial load rating N

C am Modified dynamic axial load rating N

Ci Dynamic axial load rating for the ball screw per single loaded N
turn
Cn Dynamic axial load rating for the ball nut per single loaded turn N

Cs Dynamic axial load rating for the ball screw shaft per single N
loaded turn
C0a Basic static axial load rating N

C0 am Modified static axial load rating N

D pw Ball pitch circle diameter mm

Dw Ball diameter mm

f ac Accuracy factor –

f ar Reliability factor –

fc Geometry factor –

fh Hardness factor for dynamic axial load rating –

f h0 Hardness factor for static axial load rating –

fm Material processing factor –

f op Operational preload factor –

fr n Conformity factor of ball nut –

fr s Conformity factor of ball screw shaft –

f 1, f 2 , f 3 Geometry factor –

F Axial load, force N

Fa Actual axial load N

Flim Limit load at which contact between balls and ball tracks will be N
lost by operating load
Fm Equivalent axial load N

Fma Equivalent actual axial load N

F pr Preload N

i Number of loaded turns –

k0 Characteristic of basic static axial load rating –

L Life revolutions
Lar Life with reliability factor revolutions

Lh Life h

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 ISO/CD 3408-5

Symbol Description Units

Lhar Life with reliability factor h

Lhm Modified life h

Lhmar Modified life with reliability factor h

Lm Modified life revolutions

Lmar Modified life with reliability factor revolutions

Lmr Modified resulting life revolutions

Lr Resulting life revolutions

-1
n Rotational speed min
-1
nm Equivalent rotational speed min

Ph Lead mm
q Time %
rn Ball track radius of ball nut mm

rs Ball track radius of ball screw shaft mm

zl Number of effectively loaded balls per turn –

zu Number of unloaded balls in the recirculation system where –

balls are recirculated after one turn

4.1 Subscripts

Symbol Description
j number of loadings

1 refers to load direction 1

2 refers to load direction 2

(1) refers to ball nut 1

( 2) refers to ball nut 2

5 Basic axial load ratings

5.1 Basic static axial load rating C0a

The basic axial load rating is calculated from the following equations:

C0 a = k o ⋅ z l ⋅ i ⋅ sinα ⋅ Dw2 ⋅ cos ϕ (1)

 D pw ⋅ π 
zl =  − zu  (2)
 cos ϕ ⋅ D 
 w  integer

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ISO/CD 3408-5

 Ph 
ϕ = arctan  (3)
 π ⋅ D pw 
 

27,74
ko = (4)
Dw ⋅ (ρ11 + ρ12 ) ⋅ (ρ 21 + ρ 22 )
2
ρ11 = ρ 21 = (5)
Dw

−1
ρ12 = (6)
f rs ⋅ Dw

cos α
ρ 22 = (7)
D pw D
− cos α ⋅ w
2 2

NOTE The calculation of the basic static axial load rating C 0 a is based on a maximum deformation of 0,0001 x ball
diameter.

5.2 Basic dynamic axial load rating Ca

In case of optimal load distribution (parallel load directions in ball screw shaft and in ball nut), the basic
dynamic axial load rating is derived from the following basic interrelations:

C a = Ci ⋅ i 0,86 (8)

where

−0,3
 C 
10 / 3 
Ci = C s ⋅ 1 +  s 

 (9)
  Cn  
 

with

C s = f c ⋅ (cos α )0,86 ⋅ z l2 / 3 ⋅ D1w,8 ⋅ tan α ⋅ (cos ϕ )1,3 ( 10 )

0,41
 
 
f c = 9,32 ⋅ f1 ⋅ f 2 ⋅  
1
 ( 11 )
1
 1 − 
 2 ⋅ f rs 

 sin α 
f1 = 10 ⋅ 1 −  ( 12 )
 3 

γ 0,3 ⋅ (1 − γ )1,39
f2 = ( 13 )
(1 + γ )1 / 3
Dw
γ = ⋅ cos α ( 14 )
D pw

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 ISO/CD 3408-5

0 , 41
 1 
2− 
= f 3 ⋅  
Cs fr n
( 15 )
Cn 1 
2− 
 fr s 

rn
fr n = ( 16 )
Dw

rs
fr s = ( 17 )
Dw

1,72 3
 1− γ 
f 3 =   z l see equation (2) ( 18 )
 1+ γ 

6 Modified axial load ratings

6.1 Modified static axial load rating C0am

C0 am = C0 a ⋅ f h0 ⋅ f ac ( 19 )

6.1.1 Correction for surface hardness fh0

A deviation in hardness has to be corrected by:

3
 actual hardness HV 10 
f h0 =   ≤ 1 ( 20 )
 654 HV 10 

NOTE The hardness factors shall only apply to ball bearing steel or similar steel alloys.

6.1.2 Correction for accuracy fac

Table 1 — Accuracy factor fac (reference data)

Class 1, 3 and 5 7 10

fac 1 0,9 0,7

6.2 Modified dynamic axial load rating Cam

C am = C a ⋅ f h ⋅ f ac ⋅ f m ( 21 )

6.2.1 Correction for surface hardness fh

2
 actual hardness HV 10 
f h =   ≤ 1 See NOTE at equation (20) ( 22 )
 654 HV 10 

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ISO/CD 3408-5

6.2.2 Correction for accuracy fac

The correction for accuracy fac for dynamic axial load is the same as for static axial load, see Table 1.

6.2.3 Influence of material melting process fm

Table 2 — Material factor fm

Ball bearing steel fm

Air melted 1,0

Vacuum degassed 1,25

Electro slag remelted 1,44

Vacuum remelted 1,71

NOTE If other than air melted steel is used the ball screw supplier has to specify the selected melting process in the
data sheets.

7 Life

7.1 Equivalent rotational speed and equivalent axial load

7.1.1 General

In case of variable rotational speed and variable axial load the equivalent values Fm and n m have to be used
for the life calculation:

• At variable rotational speed the following applies for the equivalent rotational speed n m (see figure 1):
n qj
nm = ∑ 100 ⋅ n j ( 23 )
j =1

• At variable axial load and variable rotational speed the following applies for the equivalent axial load Fm
(see figure 2):
n nj qj
Fm = 3 ∑ F j3 ⋅ nm ⋅ 100 ( 24 )
j =1

• At variable axial load and constant rotational speed the following applies for the equivalent axial load Fm
(see figure 2):
n qj
Fm = 3 ∑ F j3 ⋅ 100 ( 25 )
j =1

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 ISO/CD 3408-5

Figure 1 — Equivalent rotational speed nm Figure 2 — Equivalent axial load Fm

7.1.2 Ball screw with backlash between ball nut and screw shaft

7.1.2.1 Unidirectional external axial load applied (see figure 3)

Figure 3 — Ball screw with backlash and unidirectional axial loading

For calculation of equivalent axial load use:

• for variable rotational speed: equation (23) and (24)

• for constant rotational speed: equation (25)

7.1.2.2 Bidirectional external axial load applied (see figure 4)

Figure 4 — Ball screw with backlash and bidirectional axial loading

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ISO/CD 3408-5

For calculation of equivalent axial load use:

• for variable rotational speed (see figure 5 a) ): equation (23)
n nj qj
Fm1,2 = 3 ∑ F13,2 j ⋅ nm ⋅ 100 ( 26 )
j =1

• for constant rotational speed (see figure 5 b) )

n qj
Fm1,2 = 3 ∑ F13,2 j ⋅ 100 ( 27 )
j =1

Figure 5 — a) — Variable speed Figure 5 b) — Bidirectional axial loading

7.1.3 Ball screw with preloaded ball nuts on screw shaft

Figure 6 — Preloaded ball screw

8 © ISO 2003 – All rights reserved

 ISO/CD 3408-5

Due to the application of an external axial load to a preloaded ball screw (backlash elimination between nuts
and screw shaft) one ball nut will be additionally loaded and the other relieved (see figure 7).

Figure 7 — Preload diagram

The preloaded ball nut (1) or (2) respectively, will be additionally loaded by an external axial load. The actual
axial load to this ball nut is:
3/2
 F1,2 j 
Fa(1),( 2) j = f op ⋅ F pr ⋅ 1 + 
f op = 0,6 (reference data)
 2 3 / 2 ⋅ f op ⋅ F pr  ( 28 )
 

NOTE Due to the fact that the preload decreases over the operational life of ball screws, the average operational
preload is set to 60% of the original preload.

The preloaded ball nut (2) or (1) respectively, will be relieved by the same load value.
Fa( 2),(1) j = Fa(1),( 2) j − F1,2 j ( 29 )

For calculation use:

• for variable rotational speed:

 equivalent rotational speed equation (23)

 equivalent actual axial load

n nj qj
Fma(1),( 2) = 3 ∑ Fa3(1),(2) j ⋅ nm ⋅ 100 ( 30 )
j =1

• for constant rotational speed:

n qj
Fma(1),( 2) = 3 ∑ Fa3(1),(2) j ⋅ 100 ( 31 )
j =1

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ISO/CD 3408-5

Figure 8 — a) —Variable rotational speed Figure 8 b) to 8 d) — Variable axial loadings

7.2 Nominal life L or Lh

7.2.1 Ball screw with backlash between ball nut and screw shaft

7.2.1.1 Unidirectional external axial load applied

Life in revolutions:
3
C 
L =  a  ⋅ 10 6
 ( 32.1 )
 Fm 

Life in hours:
L
Lh = ( 33.1 )
60 ⋅ n m

7.2.1.2 Bidirectional external axial load applied

Life in revolutions:
3
 C 
L1,2 =  a  ⋅ 10 6 ( 34.1 )
F 
 m1,2 

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 ISO/CD 3408-5

7.2.2 Ball screw with preloaded ball nuts on screw shaft

Life in revolutions:

3
 Ca 
L1,2 =   ⋅ 10 6 ( 35.1 )
 Fma(1),( 2) 
 

7.2.3 Resulting life Lr

The resulting life of the bidirectionally axial loaded ball screw with backlash or of the preloaded ball screw
shall be calculated in revolutions:

(
Lr = L1
−10 / 9
+ L2 )
−10 / 9 −9 / 10
in hours: see equation (33.1) ( 36.1 )

7.2.4 Nominal life with reliability factor Lar or Lhar

in revolutions

Lar = L ⋅ f ar ( 37.1 )

respectively

Lar = Lr ⋅ f ar ( 38.1 )

in hours

Lhar = Lh ⋅ f ar ( 39.1 )

Table 3 — Reliability factor far

Reliability [%] far

90 1

95 0,62

96 0,53

97 0,44

98 0,33

99 0,21

NOTE There are other factors reducing life, such as shock loads, vibrations, temperature, lubrication, misalignment
etc., the consideration of which might be required.

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ISO/CD 3408-5

7.3 Modified life Lm or Lhm

7.3.1 Ball screw with backlash between ball nut and screw shaft

7.3.1.1 Unidirectional external axial load applied

Life in revolutions:
3
C 
Lm =  am  ⋅ 10 6
 ( 32.2 )
 Fm 

Life in hours:
L
Lhm = ( 33.2 )
60 ⋅ nm

7.3.1.2 Bidirectional external axial load applied

Life in revolutions:
3
 C 
Lm1,2 =  am  ⋅ 10 6 ( 34.2 )
F 
 m1,2 

7.3.2 Ball screw with preloaded ball nuts on screw shaft

Life in revolutions:
3
 C am 
Lm1,2 =   ⋅ 10 6 ( 35.2 )
 Fma(1),( 2) 
 

7.3.3 Modified resulting life Lmr

The resulting life of the bidirectionally axial loaded ball screw with backlash or of the preloaded ball screw
shall be calculated in revolutions:

(
Lmr = Lm1−10 / 9 + Lm2 −10 / 9 )
−9 / 10
in hours: see equation (33.2) ( 36.2 )

7.3.4 Modified life with reliability factor Lmar or Lhmar

in revolutions
Lmar = Lm ⋅ f ar ( 37.2 )

respectively
Lmar = Lmr ⋅ f ar ( 38.2 )

in hours
Lhmar = Lhm ⋅ f ar ( 39.2 )

12 © ISO 2003 – All rights reserved