Machsupport Forum

Tangent Corner => Tangent Corner => Topic started by: Overloaded on April 02, 2015, 06:56:37 PM

Title: Screw lube
Post by: Overloaded on April 02, 2015, 06:56:37 PM

Grease is grease ... right?
 What is the difference between Ballscrew grease and regular bearing grease ?

Russ

Title: Re: Screw lube
Post by: Tweakie.CNC on April 03, 2015, 04:50:22 AM

I really don't know the differences between the various lubricants but here is a bit of reading...

http://www.machsupport.com/forum/index.php/topic,20490.0.html
http://www.hiwin.com/pdf/bs/Lubrication/Ballscrew%20Lubrication.pdf
http://www.nskamericas.com/cps/rde/xbcr/na_en/Lubrication_and_Dust_Prevention_of_Ball_Screw.pdf

(A couple of years back I was having problems operating a machine at low temperatures and switched lubricant to Arctic grade jet turbine oil - everything worked beautifully until ambient temperatures started to rise (in the summertime) then I discovered 'stiction'. So lots to learn (at least for me) about the properties engineered into the various, purpose constructed, lubricants).

Tweakie.

Title: Re: Screw lube
Post by: RICH on April 03, 2015, 07:19:14 AM

Good general question but not a simple one to answer. So will give some background info relative to the
question.

Years ago at school a manditory course in Tribology was reguired. And later on took a company course in
lubrication which was taught by one of our company specialists.
What this dude learned was:
Didn't know how stupid I was until venturing into a discipline of a specialist discipline.  :D

FWIW.....
Selection of a lubricant is application specific.The lubricant properties must satisfy design conditions.
(The conditions are more than just temperature or say a max  viscosity). The physical characteristics of two different lubricants can seem equal at first, but just one composition difference can be rule one out over the other
( ie; compatablity with say a seal material or inertness).So the lubricant can be petrolium based / synthetic/ is in a class based on how formulated/ basic makeup/additives (ie;type/ thicknes) /viscosity, etc. Then design conditions can be max and min operating conditon/ shear rate / let us not forget cost..../oxidation stability, fire resistance / enviroment/
primary use, etc. So it an get complex quickly depending on the big picture.

So try to picture a list of all the lubricants manufactured today by all the different manufactures along with respective
applications inclusive of basic makeup and desired design conditions. ???

Don't know what grease is.....sorry no answer.  ;)

RICH

Title: Re: Screw lube
Post by: Overloaded on April 03, 2015, 09:19:32 AM

Great info guys, THANKS.

Title: Re: Screw lube
Post by: ostie01 on April 04, 2015, 12:24:55 PM

Elbow grease is the best ;D

Jeff

Title: Re: Screw lube
Post by: ger21 on April 04, 2015, 01:08:51 PM

I was looking at this and similar info for a friends ballscrew yesterday.
Hiwin recommends Mobilux EP1, which is only about $3.75 a tube at McMaster-Carr.
Also on that list of alternatives is Kluber GL-261. We use that at work on our Morbidelli router with an auto lube system. It's about $70/tube.