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From Raw Steel to Micron Precision: The Ball Screw Manufacturing Journey

From Raw Steel to Micron Precision: The Ball Screw Manufacturing Journey

2025-12-06
From Raw Steel to Micron Precision: The Making of a Ball Screw

When you look at a datasheet, a BALL SCREW often looks like just another threaded shaft. But any seasoned engineer knows that the difference between a "good enough" screw and a high-performance component isn't visible to the naked eye—it’s hidden in the manufacturing process.

How do we turn a raw steel bar into a precision instrument capable of positioning a machine tool within ±0.018mm? It’s not magic; it’s a rigorous sequence of metallurgy, thermal engineering, and abrasive machining.

Here is the step-by-step breakdown of how we control quality from the very first cut.

1. Material Selection: It Starts with the Grain

You can't machine precision into bad steel. If the base material has impurities or inconsistent grain structure, it will warp during heat treatment or fail prematurely under load.

berita perusahaan terbaru tentang From Raw Steel to Micron Precision: The Ball Screw Manufacturing Journey  0

We don't cut corners here. We strictly use High-Carbon Alloy Steels (typically CF53 or SUJ2/52100 Bearing Steel). These materials are chosen for their high purity. Why does this matter to you? Because purity equals fatigue resistance. A clean microstructure means the raceways won't pit or flake after millions of cycles.

2. Induction Hardening: The HRC 62 Standard

Once the soft steel is turned to the correct diameter, it undergoes its most critical transformation: Induction Hardening.

We pass the shaft through a high-frequency induction coil, heating the surface to over 800°C in seconds, followed immediately by a rapid quench. This creates a hardened "shell" on the surface while keeping the core tough and ductile.

The Target: HRC 58-62.
Anything softer wears out too fast. Anything harder becomes brittle. We hit this sweet spot to ensure your machine runs for years, not months.
3. The Fork in the Road: Rolled vs. Ground

At this stage, the process diverges based on your application needs.

  • The Cost-Effective Route (Rolled): The steel is cold-pressed through heavy dies. It’s fast and efficient, producing C7 accuracy (±0.050mm/300mm). Great for transport and basic automation.
  • The Precision Route (Ground): If you are building a CNC machining center or semiconductor equipment, rolling isn't precise enough. The shaft moves to our climate-controlled grinding facility to become a GROUND BALL SCREW.
4. Precision Thread Grinding: Chasing Microns

This is where the real work happens. In a temperature-controlled room (kept strictly at 20°C), CNC thread grinders carve the final raceway profile.

berita perusahaan terbaru tentang From Raw Steel to Micron Precision: The Ball Screw Manufacturing Journey  1

Unlike turning, grinding is a slow, multi-pass process. We use high-volume oil coolant to ensure zero thermal expansion during machining. The grinding wheel is dressed to a perfect "Gothic Arch" profile.

The Result? A surface finish so smooth that the balls glide rather than roll, and a lead error controlled within JIS C5 standards (±0.018mm) or even tighter C3 grades.

5. Verification: Laser Interferometry & Preload

Trust is good, but data is better. We don't ship based on assumptions.

berita perusahaan terbaru tentang From Raw Steel to Micron Precision: The Ball Screw Manufacturing Journey  2

Every high-precision screw is checked using a Laser Lead Measuring Machine. We map the travel error over the entire length of the shaft. If the cumulative error exceeds the tolerance chart, the part is scrapped.

The Final Touch: Preload Matching

A screw is useless if the nut wobbles. To eliminate backlash (axial play), we hand-match the ball bearings. By selecting balls that are just a few microns larger than the gap, we create an internal "Preload" (e.g., Z1 or Z2 grade). This gives the system rigidity, ensuring that when your motor stops, the load stops exactly there—no bounce, no drift.

Summary

Manufacturing a BALL SCREW is a journey from a rough steel bar to a micron-perfect instrument. It involves selecting the right SUJ2 steel, hitting that HRC 62 hardness, and grinding with obsessive attention to thermal details.

Whether you need a robust rolled screw for a lift system or a GROUND BALL SCREW for a precision lathe, knowing what happens inside the factory helps you understand exactly what you are paying for: Reliability.

spanduk
Detail Berita
Created with Pixso. Rumah Created with Pixso. Berita Created with Pixso.

From Raw Steel to Micron Precision: The Ball Screw Manufacturing Journey

From Raw Steel to Micron Precision: The Ball Screw Manufacturing Journey

From Raw Steel to Micron Precision: The Making of a Ball Screw

When you look at a datasheet, a BALL SCREW often looks like just another threaded shaft. But any seasoned engineer knows that the difference between a "good enough" screw and a high-performance component isn't visible to the naked eye—it’s hidden in the manufacturing process.

How do we turn a raw steel bar into a precision instrument capable of positioning a machine tool within ±0.018mm? It’s not magic; it’s a rigorous sequence of metallurgy, thermal engineering, and abrasive machining.

Here is the step-by-step breakdown of how we control quality from the very first cut.

1. Material Selection: It Starts with the Grain

You can't machine precision into bad steel. If the base material has impurities or inconsistent grain structure, it will warp during heat treatment or fail prematurely under load.

berita perusahaan terbaru tentang From Raw Steel to Micron Precision: The Ball Screw Manufacturing Journey  0

We don't cut corners here. We strictly use High-Carbon Alloy Steels (typically CF53 or SUJ2/52100 Bearing Steel). These materials are chosen for their high purity. Why does this matter to you? Because purity equals fatigue resistance. A clean microstructure means the raceways won't pit or flake after millions of cycles.

2. Induction Hardening: The HRC 62 Standard

Once the soft steel is turned to the correct diameter, it undergoes its most critical transformation: Induction Hardening.

We pass the shaft through a high-frequency induction coil, heating the surface to over 800°C in seconds, followed immediately by a rapid quench. This creates a hardened "shell" on the surface while keeping the core tough and ductile.

The Target: HRC 58-62.
Anything softer wears out too fast. Anything harder becomes brittle. We hit this sweet spot to ensure your machine runs for years, not months.
3. The Fork in the Road: Rolled vs. Ground

At this stage, the process diverges based on your application needs.

  • The Cost-Effective Route (Rolled): The steel is cold-pressed through heavy dies. It’s fast and efficient, producing C7 accuracy (±0.050mm/300mm). Great for transport and basic automation.
  • The Precision Route (Ground): If you are building a CNC machining center or semiconductor equipment, rolling isn't precise enough. The shaft moves to our climate-controlled grinding facility to become a GROUND BALL SCREW.
4. Precision Thread Grinding: Chasing Microns

This is where the real work happens. In a temperature-controlled room (kept strictly at 20°C), CNC thread grinders carve the final raceway profile.

berita perusahaan terbaru tentang From Raw Steel to Micron Precision: The Ball Screw Manufacturing Journey  1

Unlike turning, grinding is a slow, multi-pass process. We use high-volume oil coolant to ensure zero thermal expansion during machining. The grinding wheel is dressed to a perfect "Gothic Arch" profile.

The Result? A surface finish so smooth that the balls glide rather than roll, and a lead error controlled within JIS C5 standards (±0.018mm) or even tighter C3 grades.

5. Verification: Laser Interferometry & Preload

Trust is good, but data is better. We don't ship based on assumptions.

berita perusahaan terbaru tentang From Raw Steel to Micron Precision: The Ball Screw Manufacturing Journey  2

Every high-precision screw is checked using a Laser Lead Measuring Machine. We map the travel error over the entire length of the shaft. If the cumulative error exceeds the tolerance chart, the part is scrapped.

The Final Touch: Preload Matching

A screw is useless if the nut wobbles. To eliminate backlash (axial play), we hand-match the ball bearings. By selecting balls that are just a few microns larger than the gap, we create an internal "Preload" (e.g., Z1 or Z2 grade). This gives the system rigidity, ensuring that when your motor stops, the load stops exactly there—no bounce, no drift.

Summary

Manufacturing a BALL SCREW is a journey from a rough steel bar to a micron-perfect instrument. It involves selecting the right SUJ2 steel, hitting that HRC 62 hardness, and grinding with obsessive attention to thermal details.

Whether you need a robust rolled screw for a lift system or a GROUND BALL SCREW for a precision lathe, knowing what happens inside the factory helps you understand exactly what you are paying for: Reliability.