How A Ball Screw Works (Animated)

This animation shows how a recirculating ball screw works. It is important to note that this has a external return tube and there are other designs and pathways, but they functionally all work the same. Not shown are the scrubbers which close in the mechanism on either end and which prevent debris from fouling the mechanism.
This was designed and animated in SolidWorks 2020. In total there are 70 bearing balls in this animation with each having its own path mate and path mate motor. (I would love if someday SolidWorks added 3D chains)
This animation was originally intended to be longer with it going back and forth a few times, but SolidWorks put up a good fight. Hopefully you still get the idea.

[@MikkoRantalainen]

Great animation and clearly explained how those things work!

[@joesspace4114]

Yeah what he said

[@bendavis575]

Awesome animation, thanks!

[@gajananbhokare5466]

Excellent animation cleared my concept

[@RomanZerstoren]

I was looking for this video

[@yanbo2u]

fantastic work

[@ratnesharoskar462]

Great Animation! Thanks for this video✌🏽🔥

[@pete3370]

good video, the motion hurts my eyes 😵‍💫

[@Mahasagar]

Nice explanation

[@dizzolve]

20m video averted thank you!

[@jttv2000]

Glad it helped!

[@Cadknowledge]

really awesome work (can we use path pattern in bearing to do the animation ?)

[@jttv2000]

Chain mates don't allow you to select a 3d sketch and none of the other patterns would help as they don't add useful mates. And you cant even copy and paste a ball with a path as that is a "advanced mate" even though you just select a point and a line. So the only way i have found to do it is add 70 individual path mates with a precise starting location. Then do 70 individual path mate motors. It sucks and it really puts a strain on the computer, but to be honest SolidWorks was never made to do this.

[@sunilwalanj9035]

😮

[@JamesDeanDesigns]

Hi, I need a very short clip of a ball screw animation for a video I am about to release. Would you be happy for me to use 4-5 seconds of one of your animations? I will of course reference your channel and link back to it

[@jttv2000]

Go for it.

[@JamesDeanDesigns]

@@jttv2000 appreciated. Thank you

[@TheMax107]

If you have the nut in the opposite direction and rotate the screw will the nut go in the opposite direction?

[@MichaelRodriguez-vl8by]

Just curious, What are common failure points on these ball screws and how would you prevent them?

[@jttv2000]

I don't work in operations so I am no expert on how they fail, but the few I have heard about is they are a wear item so the groves and the nut can wear out which creates play (guaranteed to happen with enough use), the rod can be bent, the grease/lube can expire and dust can foul the mech.

[@zahihaydar7840]

Do you have a detailed video on how to draw it on solidworks?

[@manishguptakmr]

can i get to cad model pleasen for college project

[@chenhaoqian7838]

Hello Dear Friend, we are original ball screw factory, can we have chance to cooperate? Thanks.

[@simonrant7411]

Hey @jttv2000 Taht is so awesome animation. Can I use a piece of it for one of my videos? I will reference your channel. I am also willing to compensate you for the use of the video.

[@jttv2000]

Go for it

[@simonrant7411]

@@jttv2000 Thank you a lot!!

[@felsinferguson1125]

@jttv2000 Any way to get in contact with you besides here? Would like to pick your brain on a couple items you've posted, and a youtube comment section isn't exactly the best method of communication.