What lube on acme w/delrin nuts?

[WoodSpinner]

What lube do you use on acme screws with delrin nuts? I started out using a light machine oil but starting to wonder if I should be using more of a grease or what?

John

[LouF]

John here you go...

http://www.thomsonlinear.com/website...ication_en.pdf
Lithium grease will work wipe it on..

Lou

[Geof]

My company made adjustable tables using acme screws in Delrin nuts and just used Vaseline for lubrication. Very little is needed because Delrin is very slippery.

[ger21]

I use pneumatic tool oil. Just a few drops every 2-3 months.

[louieatienza]

Like Gerry, I've been using pneumatic tool oil. I actually do it more to protect the screws rather than as lubrication. I apply very little, spread it with a stiff nylon brush, then wipe it off.

[LouF]

Louie so the pneumatic tool oil is better than the Lithium grease I was spraying it on a rag and wiping it on the the screws?



Lou

[louieatienza]

Louie so the pneumatic tool oil is better than the Lithium grease I was spraying it on a rag and wiping it on the the screws?



Lou

Lou, I couldn't tell you since I've never used lithium grease on my leadscrws. Then again, I'm using high lead (8tpi) leadscrews, so they're pretty efficient to begin with. But like I mentioned, I only use the oil as preventive maintenance, not necessarily as a lubricant.

Thinking about this more, lubricating the screw could be self-defeating, as the delrin nut could probably deposit microscopic amounts of delrin onto the screw, which would make it "self-lubricaing" so to speak.

edit- I should add that Roton does recommend EP (extreme pressure) grease for their higher-lead plastic nuts. Then again, my machine does not run continuously, but if your's does, it might be a good thing to look into.

[LouF]

Lou, I couldn't tell you since I've never used lithium grease on my leadscrws. Then again, I'm using high lead (8tpi) leadscrews, so they're pretty efficient to begin with. But like I mentioned, I only use the oil as preventive maintenance, not necessarily as a lubricant.

Thinking about this more, lubricating the screw could be self-defeating, as the delrin nut could probably deposit microscopic amounts of delrin onto the screw, which would make it "self-lubricaing" so to speak.

Louie, thanks this is food for thought thinking about it I was looking at lubricating side my lead screws are the ones that came with my FLA-100 me being a newbie any help is always welcome..


Lou

[Joe S.]

Hi Lou,
I think you should check the MSDS sheet on any lube you are considering, for it's ability to "polymerize" or in other words, solidify. Many years ago, I greased some tool box slides and now it's tough to get them open If I used anything on Delrin, i suspect it would be silicone spray, though I would test to be sure it would not dissolve it first.

[ger21]

From my experience, Delrin by itself isn't nearly as slippery as it is on an oiled screw. On my "underpowered" machine, the pneumatic oil increased performance by at least 30%.
Even more on cold days.

I think you'll find that it's much neater than any grease. Add a few drops, jog back and forth, then run a rag over the screw and it's pretty clean, compared to grease.

And I don't think it ever thickens, as that would tend to have a bad effect on pneumatic tools.

[LouF]

Gerry & Louie, Thanks I will start using the oil on my leadscrews.

Lou

[WoodSpinner]

thanks to everyone who replied, I believe I'll be going with pneumatic tool oil as a lubricant, even if all it does is prevent rust to the screw.

John