POWER SCREW

Lead screw, also known as a power screw or translation screw, is a screw designed to translate turning motion into linear
motion. Common applications are machine slides ( such as in machine tools ), vises, presses, and jacks. Lead screws are
manufactured in the same way as other thread forms. Power screws are classified by the geometry of their thread.
V-threads are less suitable for lead screws than others such as Acme because they have more friction between the
threads. Their threads are designed to induce this friction to keep the fastener from loosening. Lead screws, on the other
hand, are designed to minimize friction. Therefore, in most commercial and industrial use, V-threads are avoided for
lead screw use. Nevertheless, V-threads are sometimes successfully used as lead screws, for example on micro lathes and
micro mills.
Types of threads ( Power Screws )

1. Square threads are named after their square geometry. They are the most efficient power screw, but also the
most difficult to machine, thus the most expensive.
2. Acme threads have a 290 thread angle, which is easier to machine than square threads. They are not as efficient
as square threads, due to the increased friction induced by the thread angle. The trapezoidal metric thread form is
similar to the Acme thread form, except the thread angle is 300.
3. Buttress threads are of a triangular shape. It combines the advantages of the square and Acme thread forms
with only one difference: it only works in one direction.

Illustration:

A jackscrew is a type of jack which is operated by turning a lead screw. In the form of a screw jack it is commonly used
to lift heavy weights such as the foundations of houses or large vehicles.

Illustration:

Jack Screw ( Screw Jack )

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Description

A screw jack consists of a strong screw shaft which extends vertically from a heavy supporting base, and is turned with
a bar or lever. On the upper end of the screw is a bearing surface which supports the load. When the screw it rotated it
extends, lifting the load. An alternate form of jackscrew is a threaded shaft with a collar or nut on it. When the screw
shaft is rotated, the nut moves along the shaft. This type is used in devices such as scissors jacks and heavy duty
actuators and positioning systems. A jackscrew amplifies force; a small rotational force ( torque ) on the screw shaft can
exert a large linear force on a load. The smaller the pitch of the screw threads, the larger the mechanical advantage, the
ratio of output to input force.

Advantages

An advantage of jackscrews over some other types of jack is that they are self-locking, which means when the rotational
force on the screw is removed, it will remain motionless where it was left and will not rotate backwards, regardless of
how much load it is supporting. This makes them inherently safer than hydraulic jacks, for example, which will move
backwards under load if the force on the hydraulic actuator is accidentally released.

Mechanical Advantage

The mechanical advantage of a screw jack is the ratio of the force the jack exerts on the load to the input force on the
lever, ignoring friction.

Efficiency of screw jack in raising a load

M.A. FR
eOR = x 100 % = x 100 %
VR 2 π r ( n/60 )

L ( n/60 )

where:
M.A. – Mechanical Advantage
VR – Velocity Ratio
VR = peripheral velocity of the jack handle / linear velocity of the screw
W – load to be lifted by the jack
FR – rotational force exerted on the handle of the jack
r – length of the jack handle, from the screw axis to where the force is applied
L – the lead of the screw

However, most screw jacks have large amounts of friction which increase the input force necessary, so the actual
mechanical advantage is often only 30 % to 50 % of this figure.

Applications

A jackscrew's threads must support heavy loads. In the most heavy-duty applications, such as screw jacks, a square
thread or buttress thread is used, because it has the lowest friction. In other application such as actuators, an Acme
thread is used, although it has higher friction.

The large area of sliding contact between the screw threads means jackscrews have high friction and low efficiency as
power transmission linkages, around 30% – 50%. So they are not often used for continuous transmission of high power,
but more often in intermittent positioning applications.

The ball screw is a more advanced type of lead screw that uses a recirculating-ball nut to minimize friction and prolong
the life of the screw threads. The thread profile of such screws is semicircular to properly mate with the bearing balls.
The disadvantage to this type of screw is that it is not self-locking.

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 for Square THREAD ( when raising the load ) for Square THREAD ( when lowering the load )

the thread torque ( without friction ) the thread torque ( without friction )

æD ö æ cos f tan a ö æD ö æ cos f tan a ö

TT = W ç m ÷ çç ÷÷ the TT = W ç m ÷ çç ÷÷
è 2 ø è cos f ø è 2 ø è cos f ø
the frictional torque of thread ( with friction ) the frictional torque of thread ( with friction )

æ D ö æ cos f tan a + f ö æ D öæ cos f tan a - f ö

TTf = W ç m ÷ çç ÷÷ TTf = W ç m ÷çç ÷÷
è 2 ø è cos f - f tan a ø è 2 øè cos f + f tan a ø

Efficiency of the power screw Efficiency of the power screw

( considering frictional torque of thread only ) ( considering frictional torque of thread only )

(tan a )(cosf - f tan a ) (tan a )(cosf + f tan a )

eTR = x100% eTL = x100%
(cos f tan a + f ) (cos f tan a - f )

(tana )(1 - f tan a ) (tan a )(1 + f tan a )

eTR = x100% eTL = x100%
(tan a + f ) (tan a - f )

The total external torque The total external torque

( considering frictional torque of thread and collar ) ( considering frictional torque of thread and collar )

TER = TT f + TC f TEL = TT f + TC f
æ D ö æ cos f tan a + f ö æ D öæ cos f tan a - f ö
TER = W ç m ÷ ç ÷
÷ + f c W rf TEL = W ç m ÷ç ÷
ç
è 2 ø è cos f - f tan a ç ÷ + f c W rf
ø è 2 øè cos f + f tan a ø
æ D ö æ tan a + f ö æ D öæ tan a - f ö
TER = W ç m ÷ ç
ç ÷
÷ + f c W rf TEL = W ç m ÷çç ÷
÷ + f c W rf
è 2 ø è 1 - f tan a ø è 2 øè 1 + f tan a ø

where:
the frictional radius of the collar

æ 3
- Dic ö
3 æ roc 3 - ric 3 ö
rf = (1 / 3)çç Doc ÷ = (2 / 3 ) ç ÷
2 2 ÷ ç roc 2 - ric 2 ÷
è Doc - Dic ø è ø

Doc , Dic = collar outside and inside diameter, respectively

roc , ric = collar outside and inside radius, respectively

Overall efficiency of the power screw Overall efficiency of the power screw
( considering frictional torque of thread and collar ) ( considering frictional torque of thread and collar )

eOR =
(tan a )(cos f - f tan a ) (tan a )(cos f + f tan a )
x100% eOL = x100%
(cos f tan a + f ) + ( f c Dmc / Dm )(cos f - f tan a ) (cos f tan a - f ) + ( f c Dmc / Dm )(cos f + f tan a )

eOR =
(tan a )(1 - f tan a ) (tan a )(1 + f tan a )
x100% eOL = x100%
(tan a + f ) + ( f c Dmc / Dm )(1 - f tan a ) (tan a - f ) + ( f c Dmc / Dm )(1 + f tan a )

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 for ACME THREAD ( when raising the load ) for ACME THREAD ( when lowering the load )

the thread torque ( without friction ) the thread torque ( without friction )

æD ö æ cos f tan a ö æD ö æ cos f tan a ö

TT = W ç m ÷ çç ÷÷ TT = W ç m ÷ çç ÷÷
è 2 ø è cos f ø è 2 ø è cos f ø

the frictional torque of thread ( with friction ) the frictional torque of thread ( with friction )

æ D ö æ cos f tan a + f ö æ D öæ cos f tan a - f ö

TTf = W ç m ÷ çç ÷÷ TTf = W ç m ÷çç ÷÷
è 2 ø è cos f - f tan a ø è 2 øè cos f + f tan a ø
Efficiency of the power screw Efficiency of the power screw
( considering frictional torque of thread only ) ( considering frictional torque of thread only )

(tan a )(cosf - f tan a ) (tan a )(cos f + f tan a )

eTR = x100% eTL = x100%
(cos f tan a + f ) (cos f tan a - f )

The total external torque The total external torque

( considering frictional torque of thread and collar ) ( considering frictional torque of thread and collar )

TER = TT f + TC f TEL = TT f + TC f
æ D ö æ cos f tan a + f ö æD öæ cos f tan a - f ö
TER = W ç m ÷ ç
ç ÷
÷ + f c W rf TEL = W ç m ÷çç ÷÷ + f c W r f
è 2 ø è cos f - f tan a ø è 2 øè cos f + f tan a ø
where:
the frictional radius of the collar

æ 3
- Dic ö
3 æ roc 3 - ric 3 ö
rf = (1 / 3)çç Doc ÷ = (2 / 3 ) ç ÷
2 2 ÷ ç roc 2 - ric 2 ÷
è Doc - Dic ø è ø

Doc , Dic = collar outside and inside diameter, respectively

roc , ric = collar outside and inside radius, respectively

for ACME THREAD ( when raising the load ) for ACME THREAD ( when lowering the load )

Overall efficiency of the power screw Overall efficiency of the power screw
( considering frictional torque of thread and collar ) ( considering frictional torque of thread and collar )

eOR =
(tan a )(cos f - f tan a ) (tan a )(cos f + f tan a )
x100% eOL = x100%
(cos f tan a + f ) + ( f c Dmc / Dm )(cos f - f tan a ) (cos f tan a - f ) + ( f c Dmc / Dm )(cos f + f tan a )

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 for any POWER SCREW ( THREAD )

Overall efficiency of the power screw Overall efficiency of the power screw
when raising the load when lowering the load
( considering frictional torque of thread and collar ) ( considering frictional torque of thread and collar )

Pout Pout
eOR = x100% eOL = x100%
Pin Pin

Wv Wv
eOR = x100% eOL = x100%
(2p )TER (n / 60) (2p )TEL (n / 60)
WL(n / 60) WL(n / 60)
eOR = x100% eOL = x100%
(2p )TER (n / 60) (2p )TEL (n / 60)
WL WL
eOR = x100% eOL = x100%
2p TER 2p TEL

WL WL
eOR = x100% eOL = x100%
(2p )FR r (2p )FL r
Tout Tout
eOR = x100% eOL = x100%
( 2p )Tin ( 2p )Tin
same as, same as,

eOR =
(tan a )(cos f - f tan a ) (tan a )(cos f + f tan a )
x100% eOL = x100%
(cos f tan a + f ) + ( f c Dmc / Dm )(cos f - f tan a ) (cos f tan a - f ) + ( f c Dmc / Dm )(cos f + f tan a )
where:
W = load
Pout = useful power or power required only to raise ( lower ) the load
Pin = total external power applied ( to compensate frictional power of thread and collar )
Tout = useful torque or torque required only to raise ( lower ) the load
Tin = total external torque applied ( to compensate frictional torque of thread and collar )
FR = operating force in raising the load
FL = operating force in lowering the load
r = distance that the operating force is applied
Dmc = collar mean diameter
Dm = thread pitch ( mean ) diameter
f = coefficient of friction of the thread
f c = coefficient of the friction of the collar
α = lead angle
v = linear velocity = L ( n/60 )

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 Kinds of POWER SCREWS

for SQUARE THREAD ( thread angle = pressure angle: f = 00 ) where: cos f = cos 00 = 1

for ACME THREAD ( thread angle : 2 f = 290 )

( pressure angle: f = 14.50 ) where: cos f = cos 14.50 = 0.968

for BUTTRESS THREAD ( thread angle = pressure angle: f = 450 ) where: cos f = cos 450 = 0.707

for TRAPEZOIDAL METRIC THREAD ( thread angle : 2 f = 300 )

( pressure angle: f = 150 ) where: cos f = cos 150 = 0.966

for AMERICAN STANDARD THREAD ( thread angle : 2 f = 600 )

( pressure angle: f = 300 ) where: cos f = cos 300 = 0.866

Pitch ( P ) – axial distance between corresponding points on adjacent threads and is equal to the reciprocal of the number of threads per
unit distance.

1
P= , inch
Number of threads/inch

Lead ( L ) – axial distance a thread advances in one revolution. In other words, this is the axial distance advanced by the unit for one
complete revolution of the screw.

L = Threads per revolution ( Pitch, inch per thread ) = NT ( P )

where:
L = 1 ( P ) for single threaded screw L = 3 ( P ) for triple threaded screw
L = 2 ( P ) for double threaded screw L = 4 ( P ) for quadruple threaded screw

External thread Internal thread

crest – is the top surface joining the two sides of the thread of a screw.
root – is the bottom surface joining the two sides of the thread of a screw.
Major diameter ( Do ) – is the outside or largest diameter of the thread of a screw.
Minor diameter ( Dr ) – is the smallest diameter of the thread of a screw and commonly called the root diameter.
Pitch or Mean diameter ( Dm ) – is the mean of the major and minor diameter of the thread of a screw.
Nominal size – the designation used for general identification of a thread based on the major diameter.
Thread depthness ( h ) – is the distance between the crest and the root of the thread of a screw.
Depth of thread engagement – is the radial distance, crest to crest, by which the thread forms overlap between two assembled mating
threads.
Lead angle ( α ) – is the angle of a thread formed between the line tangent to the helix and line perpendicular to the axial line of the
power screw. It is the complement of the helix angle, and at the mean diameter unless otherwise specified.

L
tan α =
π Dm

L
α = tan – 1
π Dm

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 Lead Angle / Helix Angle of Power Screw

Lead – is the axial advance of a helix or screw during one complete turn ( 3600 ). The lead for a screw thread is the axial travel for a single
revolution.

Pitch – is the axial distance between adjacent threads on a helix or screw. In most screws, called " single start " screws, which have a single
helical thread along their length, the lead and pitch are equal. They only differ in " multiple start " screws, which have several
intertwined threads. In these screws, the lead is equal to the pitch multiplied by the number of " starts ".

Lead angle ( α ) – is the angle between the line tangent to the helix and line perpendicular to the axial line of the power screw. It is the
complement of the helix angle, and understood to be at the mean diameter unless otherwise specified.

Helix angle ( ψ ) – is the angle between the line tangent to the helix and an axial line of the power screw. Common applications are screws,
helical gears, and worm gears.

The helix angle references the axis of the cylinder, distinguishing it from the lead angle, which references a line perpendicular to the axis.
Naturally, the helix angle is the geometric complement of the lead angle.

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