---
title: "Ball Screw or Linear Guide"
industry: "Machinery and Equipment Manufacturing"
verification_protocol:
  urn: "URN:CNFX:ME:BALL_SCREW_OR_LINEAR_GUIDE"
  data_integrity_hash: "d9022f969eb804fe9d2982caefe28733"
  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_GUIDE"
  data_source_uri: "https://cnfx.com/llms/industry/machinery-and-equipment-manufacturing/product/ball-screw-or-linear-guide.md"
  official_resource_url: "https://cnfx.com/industry/machinery-and-equipment-manufacturing/product/ball-screw-or-linear-guide"
  is_verified_logic: true
attributes:
  spec:
    status: "config-dependent"
    typical_range: "Axial load 0.1-100 kN, speed 0.01-3 m/s, temperature -20°C to 80°C"
    unit: "mm"
engineering_limits:
  max_safe_operating_point:
    value: 2.5
    unit: "GPa"
    consequence: "Hertzian contact fatigue at ball/raceway interface due to cyclic loading exceeding material endurance limit (σ_e ≈ 0.5×UTS for bearing steel)"
fmea_matrix_quantitative:
  - node_1:
      trigger: "Contaminant ingress (particles &gt;5 μm) into recirculation path"
      severity: 8
      occurrence: 3
      detection: 4
      mitigation_protocol: "Integral sealing with IP65-rated labyrinth seals and positive-pressure purge system"
  - node_2:
      trigger: "Thermal expansion mismatch (Δα=12×10^-6 K^-1) between screw shaft and nut housing"
      severity: 8
      occurrence: 3
      detection: 4
      mitigation_protocol: "Temperature-compensated preload adjustment mechanism with PTC sensors"
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"
  rail:
    type: "component"
    urn: "URN:CNFX:ME:RAIL"
    interface_type: "physical-logic-coupled"
  carriage-block:
    type: "part"
    urn: "URN:CNFX:ME:CARRIAGE_BLOCK"
    interface_type: "physical-logic-coupled"
  recirculating-ballsrollers:
    type: "component"
    urn: "URN:CNFX:ME:RECIRCULATING_BALLSROLLERS"
    interface_type: "physical-logic-coupled"
manufacturing_compliance:
  - standard: "ISO 3408-4:2006 (BALL SCREWS - PART 4: STATIC AND DYNAMIC AXIAL LOAD RATINGS AND OPERATIONAL LIFE)"
    scope: "Verified Engineering Specification"
  - standard: "ANSI B5.48-1977 (BALL SCREWS)"
    scope: "Verified Engineering Specification"
  - standard: "DIN 69051-1:2018 (BALL SCREWS - PART 1: GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS, ACCEPTANCE CONDITIONS)"
    scope: "Verified Engineering Specification"
url: "https://cnfx.com/llms/industry/machinery-and-equipment-manufacturing/product/ball-screw-or-linear-guide.md"
on_chain_sovereignty:
  contract_standard: "ERC-721-Industrial"
  metadata_hash: "a6172db33ba69c66ad065692fa154432c9b94e1db4bb81da92f73d379bc160a1"
  royalty_logic: "IPFS-CID-REQUIRED"
  mint_status: "logic-verified-ready"
version: "3.3.4-EXTREME-SOVEREIGN-WEB3"
---

# Industrial Specification: Ball Screw or Linear Guide

## 1. Technical Definition
Precision mechanical components that convert rotary motion into linear motion or provide linear guidance with minimal friction.

## 2. Engineering Reasoning & Causal Matrix
> **Operational Intelligence**: Designed for **Axial load 0.1-100 kN, speed 0.01-3 m/s, temperature -20°C to 80°C**. Failure boundary: **Contact stress exceeds 2.5 GPa (ball-raceway interface) or preload drops below 0.02×rated load**, Mechanism: **Hertzian contact fatigue at ball/raceway interface due to cyclic loading exceeding material endurance limit (σ_e ≈ 0.5×UTS for bearing steel)**.

### 2.2 FMEA (Failure Mode & Effects Analysis)
| Event Trigger | Severity | Failure Mode | Mitigation Strategy |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| Contaminant ingress (particles &gt;5 μm) into recirculation path | 8 | Abrasive wear on ball tracks causing increased friction torque (&gt;1.5×nominal) | Integral sealing with IP65-rated labyrinth seals and positive-pressure purge system |
| Thermal expansion mismatch (Δα=12×10^-6 K^-1) between screw shaft and nut housing | 8 | Preload loss leading to positional error accumulation (&gt;10 μm/300mm) | Temperature-compensated preload adjustment mechanism with PTC sensors |

## 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)`
- [Carriage block](https://cnfx.com/llms/industry/machinery-and-equipment-manufacturing/product/carriage-block.md) `(Standalone System)`

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

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

### Q: What are the main differences between ball screws and linear guides?
**A**: Ball screws convert rotary motion into linear motion using a screw shaft and ball nut, while linear guides provide straight-line guidance with minimal friction using rails and carriage blocks. Both are essential for precision positioning in machinery.

### Q: Which material is best for corrosive environments?
**A**: Stainless steel ball screws and linear guides offer superior corrosion resistance for humid or chemically exposed environments, while carbon steel provides higher load capacity for general industrial applications.

### Q: How do I maintain ball screw and linear guide systems?
**A**: Regular lubrication of recirculating balls/rollers, cleaning of rail surfaces, and periodic inspection for wear on screw shafts and carriage blocks will ensure optimal performance and extended service life.

## 6. Manufacturing Compliance
- ISO 3408-4:2006 (BALL SCREWS - PART 4: STATIC AND DYNAMIC AXIAL LOAD RATINGS AND OPERATIONAL LIFE)
- ANSI B5.48-1977 (BALL SCREWS)
- DIN 69051-1:2018 (BALL SCREWS - PART 1: GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS, ACCEPTANCE CONDITIONS)

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

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

> **Reference ID**: BALL_SCREW_OR_LINEAR_GUIDE | **Authority**: CNFX-2026-ST-001 | **Fingerprint**: 84782b81
