CHAPTER TWO

POWER SCREW THEORY AND CALCULATIONS

Table of contents
1. Power screw calculations

Power screw definition …………………………………..

Notification used in power screws ………………….

Choosing a standard power screw ………………….

Specifications ………………………………………………….

Torque …………………………………………………………..

Power screw definition

A power screw is a device used in machinery to change angular motion into linear motion, and usually to
transmit power.

Insert a picture of a power screw.

Notification used in power screws

Table 2-1 below shows the notification used in power screws

Notification Description
P Pitch
L Lead
W Load
𝐓𝐏𝐈 Threads per inch
dm Mean diameter
F and fc Coefficients of
running friction
∝ 14.9o
𝑻𝑹 Raising torque
D Major diameter
𝜶𝒏 Nominal angle
Choosing a standard power screw and Nut

A double thread acme power screw with 1 inch (25.4 mm) major diameter and 5 TPI was chosen as
shown if figure 2-2 below.

Figure 2-2. standard sizes of power screws

3
A 1 4 (44.45 mm) collar with 5 TPI was chosen as shown in figure 2-3 below.

Specifications

Assume

 Co-efficients of running friction are 0.104 for both the lead and the collar

Figure 2-3. standard Nut sizes (collar).

Specifications

Power screw

P= 1/TPI = 1/5 x 25.4 = 5.08 mm

L = np = 2(5.08) = 10.16 mm

dm = D -P/2 = 25.4 – (10.16/2) = 22.86 mm

𝐿
𝜆 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 ( )
𝜋 × 𝑑𝑚
10.16
𝜆 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 ( )
𝜋 × 22.86
𝜆 = 8.05°

𝛼𝑛 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 (𝑡𝑎𝑛𝛼 × 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜆)

𝛼𝑛 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 (𝑡𝑎𝑛14.5 × 𝑐𝑜𝑠4.046)
𝛼𝑛 = 14.465°
Torque
𝑊 × 𝑑𝑚 𝑓 × 𝜋𝑑𝑚 + 𝐿 × 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼𝑛 𝑊 × 𝑓𝑐 × 𝑑𝑐
𝑇R = × +
2 𝜋 × 𝑑𝑚 × 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼𝑛 − 𝑓 × 𝐿 2
4905 × 0.02286 0.104 × 𝜋 × 0.02286 + 0.01016 × 𝑐𝑜𝑠14.36 4905 × 0.104 × 0.04191
𝑇𝑅 = × +
2 𝜋 × 0.02286 × 𝑐𝑜𝑠14.36 − 0.104 × 0.01016 2

𝑇𝑅 = 24.854 Nm
𝑊 × 𝑑𝑚 𝑓 × 𝜋𝑑𝑚 − 𝐿 × 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼𝑛 𝑊 × 𝑓𝑐 × 𝑑𝑐
𝑇L = × +
2 𝜋 × 𝑑𝑚 × 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼𝑛 + 𝑓 × 𝐿 2
4905 × 0.02286 0.104 × 𝜋 × 0.02286 − 0.01016 × 𝑐𝑜𝑠14.36 4905 × 0.104 × 0.04191
𝑇𝐿 = × +
2 𝜋 × 0.02286 × 𝑐𝑜𝑠14.36 + 0.104 × 0.01016 2

𝑇𝐿 = 8.805 Nm
𝐿𝑐𝑜𝑠 14.36
𝑓≥
𝜋 × 𝑑𝑚
∴ 0.104 ≥ 0.99
Efficiency
𝐿 𝜋𝑑𝑚𝐶𝑜𝑠𝛼𝑛−𝑓𝐿
E= ×
𝜋𝑑𝑚 𝜋𝑑𝑚+𝐿𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼𝑛
10.16 π22.86Cos14.36−0.104(10.16)
= ×
π22.86 π22.86+10.16cos14.36

= 11.87 %
Stress
Axial stress
𝑑𝑟 = 𝑑 − 𝑃
𝑑𝑟 = 25.4 − 5.08
𝑑𝑟 = 20.32[𝑚𝑚]

𝑊
𝜎=
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎
4𝑊
𝜎=
𝜋𝑑𝑟 2
4(4905)
𝜎=
𝜋(0.0203)2
= 15.15 MPa

Bending stress at the thread root

6𝑊
𝜎=
𝜋𝑑𝑚 𝑛𝑝
6(4905)
=
𝜋(0.02286)(2)(0.00508)

= 40.33 𝑀𝑃𝑎

Torsion
16𝑇
𝜏=
𝜋 × 𝑑𝑟 3
16 × 24.854
𝜏=
𝜋 × (0.02032)3
𝜏 = 15.086 𝑀𝑃𝑎
Comments

 The power screw is self locking

Refferences
1. Robert C.Juvinal ,Kurt M.Marshek Machine Component Design, 5th ed,John Willey and
Sons,Singapore