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Normally kept lubricated, they often have a lube line if a lube pump is fitted.
I usually use waylube oil.
Al.
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Should the ballscrews be lubricated periodically with some light oil or should they always run dry ?
I have the CNCFusion kit on my X2.
Normally kept lubricated, they often have a lube line if a lube pump is fitted.
I usually use waylube oil.
Al.
CNC, Mechatronics Integration and Custom Machine Design (Skype Avail).
“Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.”
Albert E.
I have been using 10w30, but 5w30 would likely do better. I had some synthetic left over one time and used it. I think machine oil could be used on really small lead screws. Mine are all either 5 TPI or 10 mm lead.
Anything is better than running dry I would think.
I have been wrong before though.
I have cncfusion kit too installed on my X2. Was thinking what to use for lubrication. Can I use grease? Or it is better to use M-oil? Thanks.
I'm sure I'm just being a cheap a$$, but I picked up some of the red grease used in my toyota trucks joints and some lithium grease. Mixed it together and it works pretty awesome. 3/4 red grease for summer, reverse for winter. Use it as way lube and gear lube too.
Originally Posted by alexccmeister
I do have one ground ball screw that came on an IKO slide. It has a hollow tail end with a small hole about an inch from that end and had a grease fitting on the outside of that bearing. This is so you could park the nut at the end and lube the nut with a grease gun. Other than a setup like this or a direct grease fitting on the nut, I would say that it might be difficult to get enough grease in there.
This particular axis is now my Z on a mill, so it's just easy to drip oil down the screw to lube it. I lube it once a week.
I do grease my linear trucks if they came with grease fittings. I have a small set of THK's again on another Z axis that just gets oiled due to gravity helping out.
It's more difficult to oil the X and Y nuts on my mill. I intend to install auto oilers next time I get into the base for something.
An oil can with a flex spout is your friend though.
What about chips sticking and getting jammed up in the nut, ETC. ? This question was my reason for starting this thread.
Wipers on the nut or slide is a big plus, but they don't prevent all entry of grime. Secondary protection like way covers on a mill or screw covers go another step to preventing dirt entry. If it's such a dirty area that both of these won't prevent most of it, then perhaps another drive choice should be used.
For a quick and dirty screw or truck wiper, you can use hot glue. It conforms to the screw or rail. Just be sure you use a little oil on the screw or rails to prevent the glue from sticking there.
The last option I can think of would be to make the parts easy to dismantle. Then clean them periodically. Say every 100 or 500 hours depending.
A grease gun can clean out a standard taper bearing quickly. It would do this to some extent on a linear truck. It would likely only clean out debris from the very ends in a ball nut though. Lots of balls in the way to hold debris and prevent it exiting for clean fresh discharge. Maybe rotating and doing this several times would get most of it though.
I just prefer oil in the ball nuts myself. Easier to use I think and a little less prone to grabbing and holding chips on the screw itself.
That's a good idea for the wiper, hot glue. I'm thinking RTV might make a good seal.
I'm using the CNCFusion kit and my main concern regarding the chips is only on the Z axis ofcourse. I've been looking for screw covers for this reason. I'd like to find a "bellows" type, like a small diameter shock absorber cover. Do you know of any that are suited for a ballscrew like this ?
And I think oil would be best too until the screw is protected with a cover.
They aren't cheap, but Mcmaster Carr has two types on catalog page #3674.
http://www.mcmaster.com/ctlg/DisplCt...4&term=Bellows
I use way covers. No problems with chips, ever. And when I didnt use way covers, the lube, which is paste like, collects the chips and they get wiped off when the axis move around.
Fusion ballnuts are unsealed so any crap gets dragged inside! Sealed nuts even if offered as an extra would be useful option? With the std concertina way covers the x & y are pretty well protected so i'm gonna rig up something similar for the Z! Least it'll keep most of the debris off!.....hopefully
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