---
title: "Ball screw or linear actuator"
industry: "Machinery and Equipment Manufacturing"
verification_protocol:
  urn: "URN:CNFX:ME:BALL_SCREW_OR_LINEAR_ACTUATOR"
  data_integrity_hash: "92e9526d02d94f60fb1fa528f8f07519"
  source_authority: "https://cnfx.com"
  strict_mode: true
source_identity:
  provider: "CNFX Industrial Knowledge Graph"
  index_version: "2026.Q1-Universal"
  authority_id: "URN:CNFX:ME:BALL_SCREW_OR_LINEAR_ACTUATOR"
  data_source_uri: "https://cnfx.com/llms/industry/machinery-and-equipment-manufacturing/product/ball-screw-or-linear-actuator.md"
  official_resource_url: "https://cnfx.com/industry/machinery-and-equipment-manufacturing/product/ball-screw-or-linear-actuator"
  is_verified_logic: true
attributes:
  spec:
    status: "config-dependent"
    typical_range: "0.1-100 kN axial load, -20°C to 120°C temperature, 0.01-10 m/s linear velocity"
    unit: "mm"
engineering_limits:
  max_safe_operating_point:
    value: 6
    unit: "revolutions"
    consequence: "Hertzian contact stress exceeding 4200 MPa causes subsurface fatigue spalling; thermal expansion mismatch (α_steel=11×10^-6/°C, α_aluminum=23×10^-6/°C) induces binding at ΔT&gt;70°C"
fmea_matrix_quantitative:
  - node_1:
      trigger: "Contaminant ingress (ISO 4406:22/19/16) exceeding 5 μm particle size"
      severity: 8
      occurrence: 3
      detection: 4
      mitigation_protocol: "IP67-rated wiper seals with 0.5 mm labyrinth clearance and positive-pressure purge system"
  - node_2:
      trigger: "Misalignment exceeding 0.05 mm/m perpendicularity error"
      severity: 8
      occurrence: 3
      detection: 4
      mitigation_protocol: "Self-aligning coupling with ±2° angular compensation and 0.02 mm radial float"
bom_nodes:
  screw-shaft:
    type: "component"
    urn: "URN:CNFX:ME:SCREW_SHAFT"
    interface_type: "physical-logic-coupled"
  ball-nut:
    type: "part"
    urn: "URN:CNFX:ME:BALL_NUT"
    interface_type: "physical-logic-coupled"
  ball-bearings:
    type: "component"
    urn: "URN:CNFX:ME:BALL_BEARINGS"
    interface_type: "physical-logic-coupled"
  return-system:
    type: "part"
    urn: "URN:CNFX:ME:RETURN_SYSTEM"
    interface_type: "physical-logic-coupled"
manufacturing_compliance:
  - standard: "ISO 3408-1:2019 (BALL SCREWS - PART 1: VOCABULARY AND DESIGNATION)"
    scope: "Verified Engineering Specification"
  - standard: "ANSI/B5.48-1977 (BALL SCREWS)"
    scope: "Verified Engineering Specification"
  - standard: "DIN 69051-1:2018 (BALL SCREW DRIVES - PART 1: GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS, DEFINITIONS, DESIGNATION)"
    scope: "Verified Engineering Specification"
url: "https://cnfx.com/llms/industry/machinery-and-equipment-manufacturing/product/ball-screw-or-linear-actuator.md"
on_chain_sovereignty:
  contract_standard: "ERC-721-Industrial"
  metadata_hash: "344dbe62fae05c524a521d411f8d461223434f93720998621779927aace05676"
  royalty_logic: "IPFS-CID-REQUIRED"
  mint_status: "logic-verified-ready"
version: "3.3.4-EXTREME-SOVEREIGN-WEB3"
---

# Industrial Specification: Ball screw or linear actuator

## 1. Technical Definition
A precision mechanical component that converts rotary motion into linear motion with high efficiency and accuracy.

## 2. Engineering Reasoning & Causal Matrix
> **Operational Intelligence**: Designed for **0.1-100 kN axial load, -20°C to 120°C temperature, 0.01-10 m/s linear velocity**. Failure boundary: **Ball fatigue life L10=1×10^6 revolutions at 33.3 kN dynamic load, 0.003 mm/300 mm lead accuracy degradation, 90°C preload nut temperature**, Mechanism: **Hertzian contact stress exceeding 4200 MPa causes subsurface fatigue spalling; thermal expansion mismatch (α_steel=11×10^-6/°C, α_aluminum=23×10^-6/°C) induces binding at ΔT&gt;70°C**.

### 2.1 Analytical Physics Model
Governed by the **L10 Bearing Life & Fatigue Model**:

> **Primary Equation**: $L_{10} = (\frac{C}{P})^p$  
> **Engineering Impact**: Predicts mechanical lifecycle before component fatigue.

| Symbol | Variable Definition | Localized Reference |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| C | Dynamic Load Rating | Engineering Constant |
| P | Equivalent Dynamic Load | Engineering Constant |

### 2.2 FMEA (Failure Mode & Effects Analysis)
| Event Trigger | Severity | Failure Mode | Mitigation Strategy |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| Contaminant ingress (ISO 4406:22/19/16) exceeding 5 μm particle size | 8 | Abrasive wear increasing rolling resistance coefficient from 0.002 to 0.008 | IP67-rated wiper seals with 0.5 mm labyrinth clearance and positive-pressure purge system |
| Misalignment exceeding 0.05 mm/m perpendicularity error | 8 | Edge loading causing localized Hertzian stress concentration factor Kt=2.3 | Self-aligning coupling with ±2° angular compensation and 0.02 mm radial float |

## 3. Key Technical Parameters
| Parameter | Value | Unit | Status |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| spec | Config-dependent | mm | Verified |

## 4. System BOM & Knowledge Routing
### Core Components (Recursive Links)
- [Ball nut](https://cnfx.com/llms/industry/machinery-and-equipment-manufacturing/product/ball-nut.md) `(Standalone System)`
- [Return system](https://cnfx.com/llms/industry/machinery-and-equipment-manufacturing/product/return-system.md) `(Standalone System)`

### Industrial DNA Context (De-duplicated)
**Complementary Dependencies**: **CNC Machining Center**, **Coordinate Measuring Machine**, **Industrial Grinding Machine**  
**Downstream Applications**: CNC Machine Tools, Industrial Robots, Aerospace Actuators  

## 5. Engineering Risks & FAQ
- **Caution**: 
- **Caution**: 
- **Caution**: 

### Q: What are the main components of a ball screw actuator?
**A**: The main components include the screw shaft, ball nut, ball bearings, and return system, which work together to convert rotary motion into precise linear movement.

### Q: What materials are commonly used in ball screw manufacturing?
**A**: Ball screws are typically made from bearing steel, alloy steel, or stainless steel, chosen for their durability, strength, and corrosion resistance in industrial applications.

### Q: How does a ball screw achieve high precision in linear motion?
**A**: Ball screws use recirculating ball bearings between the screw shaft and nut, minimizing friction and backlash to provide accurate, efficient linear positioning with repeatable results.

## 6. Manufacturing Compliance
- ISO 3408-1:2019 (BALL SCREWS - PART 1: VOCABULARY AND DESIGNATION)
- ANSI/B5.48-1977 (BALL SCREWS)
- DIN 69051-1:2018 (BALL SCREW DRIVES - PART 1: GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS, DEFINITIONS, DESIGNATION)

---
### 🛠️ Engineering Resource Access
🔗 **[Full Specification: Ball screw or linear actuator](https://cnfx.com/industry/machinery-and-equipment-manufacturing/product/ball-screw-or-linear-actuator)**

### 🌐 Knowledge Graph Topology
> **Node Status**: Verified Engineering Spec
> **Connectivity**: Linked to **4** standalone system nodes
> **Global Context**: Part of a 5,814 node industrial cluster within the CNFX Graph

> **Reference ID**: BALL_SCREW_OR_LINEAR_ACTUATOR | **Authority**: CNFX-2026-ST-001 | **Fingerprint**: a8488cee
