Frequently Asked Questions

Can ball screws be used in vertical applications without back driving?

No. Without a brake motor, ball screws will always back drive.

Can acme screws be used in vertical applications without back driving?

For vertical motion, lead screws can be self-locking so that even without brakes, dropping or drifting when motor power is removed or lost can be prevented. But the higher friction of a non-backdriving screw requires increased power to drive. The lead of the screw needs to be less than one-third of the minor diameter to not backdrive.

What is the maximum recommended speed for DualVee guide wheel technology?

Speeds up to 5.5 meters per second.

Can DualVee guide wheels be used in high temperature applications?

Specially designed guide wheels using all stainless steel components, heat stabilized material, and with special grease (Krytox GPL 227) can operate up to 500°F.

What is the coefficient of friction for DualVee guide wheel technology?

Between 0.005 — 0.02 when operated on DualVee track.

What do the terms 'axial load' and 'radial load' refer to with regard to a bearing?

Axial load is any load that is parallel to the axis of rotation of the bearing.
Radial load is any load that is perpendicular to the axis of rotation.

What are 'Pitch', 'Roll', and 'Yaw'?

Pitch describes a vehicle's tendency to rotate forward or backward.
Yaw describes a vehicle's tendency to turn left to right with respect to the direction of travel.
Roll describes a vehicle's tendency to rotate side to side with respect to the direction of travel.