Development of a new lapping method for high precision ball screw (2nd report): Design and experimental study of an automatic lapping machine with in-process torque monitoring system

This paper presents a new approach in lapping process in making appropriate condition to improve the manufacturing operations for ball screw. After grinding, high precision ball screw is lapped by highly skilled operators. These operators have the ability to control and maintain the lapping conditions by sensing the lapping torque manually. Prior to lapping process, the effective diameter must be measured to find out the effective threaded profile along the screw shaft. The section which has a large effective diameter will be primarily lapped wherein the lapping torque is high. The aim of this study is to establish a control scheme on the automatic lapping machine for high precision ball screw in both measuring and finishing process. A prototyped horizontal lapping machine with in-process torque monitoring system has been designed, built, and tested. This is to determine the relationship among lapping torque, effective diameter, and error on travel to establish the measurement system to control the finishing operations efficiently and eventually improve and eliminate the various sorts of error components in a ball screw. The experimental results showed that the new lapping method could adequately predict the effective diameter and error on travel by observing the lapping torque.