Ball screw maintenance?

[Ross Leidy]

Do the ball screws on the Desktop require any lubrication? If so, what type of product is recommended?

[Brady Watson]

No. The precision Acme leadscrews are teflon coated. No lubrication should be used on them. If you spray teflon on them, it will wear off the teflon from the screw.

You can however, along with your bearing blocks, keep them clean & free from debris that could get jammed in there.

-B

[scottp55]

Brady, Now you've got me spooked. Think it was Nate and another e-mail from Shopbot that told me to dry-moly screws and I did Use tri-flow once when I got a bad/dry sound Jogging past 12,9 that disappeared immediately after spraying. Have I hurt anything or need to take extra measures now. Everything sounds hunky-dory, but it's still only been 7 months. Doing end of day maintenance and pre-flights semi-religiously.

[Brady Watson]

The plastic nuts are self-lubricating and the screws are coated. No lube required (or advised). If you feel like doing some reading, the manufacturer has a PDF outlining details about the screw & nut, coatings, self lubricating nut etc: PDF (http://www.haydonkerk.com/Portals/0/files/lead_screw_technology_engineering_data.pdf)

-B

[scottp55]

Thanks Brady. Downloaded.

[Ross Leidy]

Thanks, Brady. I haven't lubricated the screws since purchasing the Desktop, and glad that I haven't missed a maintenance step. The reason for asking is that when performing a Z-zero, I sometimes get a buzzing that will stop if I push slightly against the X-axis screw. I guess I'll just live with that.

Ross

[scottp55]

Brady, Which TFE coating do our Desktops use,Kerkote or Black Ice? Any idea about the nuts at the very bottom of the .pdf. Hope the dry Moly didn't muck anything up. Thanks

[Brady Watson]

I *think* they are the Kirkote ones, but not 100% on that. The nuts are acetal/Delrin plastic. No worries...they are not that expensive to swap out and replace if they ever get sloppy.

-B

[scottp55]

Thanks Brady.