When determining if an application calls for a lead or ball screw, your decision should be guided through evaluating the inherent advantages and disadvantages of each. This evaluation process can have a significant impact on the performance and economic benefits of linear motion projects. The first step comes from understanding how they differ. Both ball and lead screws use threaded rods to convert from rotary to linear motion. Ball screws, as the name would imply, use recirculating ball bearings to minimize friction. Lead screws, by contrast, rely on a low coefficient of friction from sliding surfaces.

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