Linear Actuators,

Lead Screws and Nuts

 Overview

1. Thread overview 2. Linear actuators 3. Lead screws 4. Threaded nuts

5. Axial play 6. Thread lead 7. Self-locking 8. Service life

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 1. Thread overview

Linear actuators cover a wide variety of application requirements with different lead screws. Nanotec offers a broad
range of screws – both ACME and trapezoidal screws.
 Standard = available on Nanotec homepage, kept on stock
 Non-standard = not available on Nanotec homepage, only high-volume projects

Thread matrix
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 2. Linear actuators
NEMA 8 NEMA 17

NEMA 11 NEMA 23

NEMA 14

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 2.1 Types of linear actuators

Non-captive (LA…) Captive (LGA…) External (LSA…)

 Customized screws  Easy and ready to use  No traversing screw
 Long strokes  Strokes of up to 70 mm  Compact design
 Anti-rotation / guidance  Anti-rotation built-in  Anti-rotation / guidance
of the screw required of the nut required

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 2.2 Design of linear actuators

Lead screw

Anti-rotation device

Anti-rotation tube

Shaft

New captive linear actuator design

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 2.3 New line of linear actuators

 Better price
 About 20% more force / torque
 Connector instead of cable
 Available with or without second shaft
 More precise and compact
 Anti-rotation for captive linear actuators Old captive linear actuator New captive linear actuator

Series NEMA Diameter Lead Resolution Max. force Max. speed

[mm] [mm] [µm/step] [N] [mm/s]
20 8 3.50 0.61 – 4.00 3.0 – 20.0 Up to 46 Up to 60
28 11 4.76 – 5.00 0.635 – 5.08 3.2 – 25.4 Up to 210 Up to 100
42 17 5.56 – 6.35 0.79 – 6.35 4.0 – 31.8 Up to 470 Up to 100

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 2.4 Comparison of old and new linear actuators

 Linear actuator: NEMA 17,

size S, 1.4 A per winding
 Thread = TJBA (T6x1) New: LA421S14-A-TJBA

Old: L4118S1404-T6X1

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 3. Lead screws

 Lead screws manufactured in China

 Better price
 More variety
 Better control over dimensions and quality
 DLC coating for high-volume projects possible
(about +20% service life)

ACME screw

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 4. Threaded nuts

 Change from PEEK to POM

 Better price
 Easier to manufacture
 Longer service life
 Less operating noise
 Less dust generation
 Anti-backlash nuts to reduce axial play
POM threaded nuts

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 5. Axial play

 Axial play = necessary gap between screw

and nut
 Axial play will occur only at the start or if the
direction changes Threaded nut
 Axial play on Nanotec homepage is theoretical
value (calculated from the tolerances from
which we produce the screws and nuts)
 Axial play can be avoided with permanent force
in one direction or an anti-backlash nut Lead screw

= Max. axial play: +/-0.05

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 6. Thread lead

 Choice of the thread is the most important factor (apart from size of the actuator)
 Screws are assigned to different NEMA sizes according to their diameter
 Lead of the screw determines:
 Force and speed of the actuator
 Service life
 Screw efficiency
 Self-locking capability
 Rule of thumb:

Higher lead results in higher speed,

less force and longer service life.

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 7. Self-locking

 Self-locking screws don’t rotate if only an axial force is applied

(because of the friction angle of the thread)

Self-locking: 𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 > 𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙𝑙 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎

µ 𝑃𝑃
𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝛼𝛼 > 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 𝜋𝜋 ∗𝑑𝑑
𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐
2

 Rule of thumb:

Self-locking: lead < 1/3 diameter

 Lubrication can influence self-locking

 Advantageous for applications where the motor needs to hold the load without current
 Example threads: TDBA (T3,5x1), TJBA (T6x1), UGAQ (ACME4.76x0.635), UKAS (ACME6.35x0.79)

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 8. Service life

 The service life of linear actuators depends on load, lubrication, environment, etc.
 Linear actuators are designed such that the female thread will wear out first
 Every movement of the screw inside the female thread will wear out the thread flanks
 Failure is a result from a too big step error or a complete destruction of the thread flanks

Service life
Factor
if factor increases
Force -
Speed -
Temperature -
Lubrication +
Thread lengths +
Thread lead +

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 8.1 Calculation of service life

 Service life is calculated with the help of a tool*

designed by Nanotec
 Service life estimates are backed up
by service life tests
 Output in km, hours, days or cycles

Required Information
 Linear actuator type (LA, LGA or LSA)
 Linear actuator size (NEMA)
 Force
 Speed

Additional Information (optional)

 Stroke
 Required service life Service life calculation tool

*Tool is for Nanotec internal use only

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 8.2 Example calculation of service life

 Application requirement example: 80 N, 60 mm/s, NEMA 17, LSA, best possible service life
 Linear actuator: LSA421S14  external nut, thread length = 19.05 mm
 Possible threads to fulfill requirements: UIEV (ACME5.56x4.88), UKGI (ACME6.35x6.35)

 Service life calculation: UIEV = 56.29 km; UKGI = 99.39 km

 Proposal: LSA421S14-A-UKGI-152 (+ LSNUT-AAAE-UKGI)

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 8.3 Example calculation 2

 Application requirement example: 10 mm/s, NEMA 11, LGA, 15 km service life required
 Linear actuator: LGA281S10  internal nut, thread length = 15 mm
 Possible max. force, which thread?

 Service life calculation for 15 km: UGAQ = 13.2 N; THCA = 79.8 N; UGFC = 262.5 N (max. force 50N)
 Proposal: LGA281S10-A-THCA-019 with 80 N

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Linear Actuators