Need Help!- Repacking VMC 15 X axis ballscrew

[dougputt]

Hi

Anyone have any idea how to repack X axis linear ballscrew nut? I had to remove it to remove my table and saddle and now I'm kinda pooched til I figure this out. Are all the balls the same size?

[Delw]

PAIN in the ^%%

I did this twice on ball screws we had to modify for machines., take the tubes off DONT BEND THEM. My boss always told me to take the front seal off as theres a retaing ring in there. I never did as I didnt need to again.

All the balls are the same size. the move around when the ball screw turns thats why the tubes so the balls dont wear.

you dont force them either they slide in real smooth and nice. I was told not to put greese on them always use slick 50. doont knwo if its true or not but thats what we always used. we used to cut ball screws to fit the old acrolocs.
I am sure lots of guys have done this so they would probly be more help, last time i screwed up a ball screw was in the early 90s. I use lots of duct tape when I have to cut them now.

[Neal]

It was totally un-necessary to remove the ball nut from the screw to remove the table and saddle from the machine. Since you have the unit apart you chances of properly re-assembling it with the correct tolerences and proper pre-load is very iffy.
When you have it back together and running, if you have any problems, I would advise to replace the ball screw assembly and not waste your time with it.

Neal

[dougputt]

Thanks for the responses, Delw & Neal

Unfortunately I had no choice to remove the X axis nut from the screw as the servo mount was so badly corroded I could not get apart insitu. Not sure what the previous owners had done to this poor machine but there was a lot of corrosion, had to replace X & Y linear rails (not cheap) as well as the mount for the X axis servo and screw.

If anyone has some more info on reassembling the X axis nut I sure would appreciate it.

[fadalserviceguy]

AS A PREVIOUS REPLY MENTIONED YOUR IN DEEP DO-DO - BUT IF YOUR SURE YOU HAVE ALL OF THE BALL BEARINGS THAT CAME FROM THE BALLNUT ASSEMBLY - CLEAN ALL YOUR PARTS SO THAT YOU WOULD NOT HESITATE TO PLACE A BALL BEARING IN YOUR MOUTH - ONCE THERE THAT CLEAN USE DOCTORS GLOVES AND SOAK THE PARTS IN A SUPER CLEAN DTE HYD OIL - ALSO MAKE SURE THE NUT CAVITY END SEAL ARE DONE DAMAGED - I HAVE USED A MAGNETIC PEN TO INSERT THE BALLS - IF YOU FEEL THAT AFTER YOU REPLACE THE RECIRCLATING TUBES AND WHILE TURNING THE BALLSCREW THAT THE BALLS BEARINGS ARE BEING MOVED INTERNALY WITHOUT BUNCHING UP - YOU MAY HAVE SAVED YOURSELF A GOOD CHUNK OF CASH - TURN IT VERY SLOWLY TO FEEL HOW WELL THE BALL BEARINGS ARE MOVEING - IF YOU FEEL A STICKING EFFECT AND THEN FREE MOVEMENT YOU BEST GET A NEW ONE ON ORDER

[dougputt]

whew, finally got them back in...turns nice and smooth, ended up using DC4 to hold them in place after I thoroughly cleaned everything in ultrasonic cleaner.
Now I just have to recalibrate everything...............yikes