Ball Screw and Linear Motor Drives Compared
The drive train is the single biggest difference between the four DLCNC drilling series. This is what changes when you move from a ball screw to a linear motor.
Published 2023-09-11 by Chengdu Jindali Technology Co., Ltd
What Changes on the Machine
D1X and D2X use imported high precision ball screws and linear guides driven by an imported AC servo system. D3X and D4X replace that with linear motors running against a high precision linear scale and guide.
Feed Rate
The ball screw driven D2X reaches 50m/min on XY and 30m/min on Z. The linear motor driven D3X and D4X reach 80m/min on XY. Linear motor drive has quicker speed and can reach up to 100m/min in the general case.
Accuracy
Positioning accuracy ±0.01mm and repeatability accuracy ±0.005mm are the same on both drive types. Drilling accuracy is ±1mil on D2X D3X and D4X. Drive type changes the speed at which the accuracy is delivered rather than the accuracy itself.
Environment Sensitivity
Linear scale gives higher precision but is sensitive to dust so contamination must be kept away from it. A shop that cannot control dust reliably may hold accuracy better with a ball screw machine. For routing machines a magnetic scale is an alternative to linear scale.
Maintenance
A ball screw driven table needs recalibration about every year. Linear motor drive removes that recalibration but adds the requirement to keep the scale clean which appears in the monthly guide rail maintenance step.
How To Decide
Start from the cycle time you need. If the ball screw machine already meets it the extra environmental discipline that a linear scale requires is not worth buying. If drilling is the constraint on the line the linear motor machines are the correct answer.
