Electrical linear actuator anti-rotation

[weitl]

I am looking for the ideas of anti-rotation features for linear actuators driven by electric motor and ballscrew. There are some ideas I have come across such as make the actuator shaft non-circular shape which will increase the machining cost and make the sealing more difficult also there is ballsplin shaft can be used to mounted to a ballscrew. If you have more ideas, please share. Thanks in advance.

 

[israelkk]

I do not understand your problem, usually at the end of the screw their is two or one eye link that should do the job and prevent rotation?

 

[weitl]

Yes. Most of the applications the mounting will provide the anti-rotation. But there are some cases that the actuator its-self to provide anti-rotation.

 

[israelkk]

Can you describe your specific problem and how are you going to use the screw?

 

[weitl]

Thanks.

I have a motor turn the ballscrew nut so the screw will translating in linear motion. If the screw is not anti-rotated, it will spin instead of translating. When a shaft is attached to the screw end, the shaft will be acting like an actuator rod. If I made the rod a non-circular shape or along a guide to prevent it from roting, or use a ballspline shaft, I have achieved what I want. I am just wondering if there are some other nice ideas out there.

 

[Barry1961]

You could clamp the screw with a couple of v-groove wheels or those Osborn load runners. As efficient as a ballscrew is there should not be much torque but I would stay away from needle bearings.
If there was a failure in the nut the screw would likely spin in the wheels and gall the screw.
How many wheels and what size would depend on screw size and pitch. You should be able to calculate the required clamping force to keep the screw from spinning. The force lost to roll the wheels should be minimal when your dealing with the thrust of a ballscrew.
The wheels may also help prevent side loading.

Barry1961