Selecting lubricants for ball screws

Lubricants maintain the low friction advantage of ball-screw assemblies by minimizing rolling resistance between balls and tracks and sliding friction between adjacent balls. Proper lubrication helps keep most contaminants out, which greatly reduces the damage foreign matter can cause. The kinds of available lubricants are presented. Choosing the right oil or grease lubrication for ball-screw assemblies reduces unscheduled downtime for repair by ensuring that the assemblies deliver their expected service lines.