This paper investigates the nature of the contact between the load transferring surfaces in the roller screw mechanism, i.e., between the screw and roller threads and between the nut and roller threads. The analysis is applied to both planetary roller screws and recirculating roller screws. Prior work has neglected to take a fundamental approach toward understanding the kinematics of the contact between these components and, as a consequence, detailed analyses of aspects such as contact mechanics, friction, lubrication, and wear are not correctly carried out. Accordingly, in this paper, the principle of conjugate surfaces is used to establish contact at the screw/roller and nut/roller interfaces. The in-plane angles to the contact points are derived and it is shown that for the screw/roller interface, the contact point cannot lie on the bodies' line of centers, as has been the assumption in previous papers. Then, based on the curved profile of the roller thread, the radii of contact on the roller, screw, and nut bodies are also derived. Knowledge of the contact point locations is necessary in order to understand the interaction forces between the key components of the roller screw mechanism. The principal radii of curvature at the contact points and the angle between the principal axes are also derived. Lastly, a brief example is developed showing how the developed theory may be used to design a roller screw for improved stiffness and decreased contact stresses.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
Research-Article
Contact Kinematics in the Roller Screw Mechanism
Steven A. Velinsky
Steven A. Velinsky
1
e-mail: savelinsky@ucdavis.edu
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering,
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering,
University of California
,Davis, One Shields Avenue
,Davis, CA 95616
1Corresponding author.
Search for other works by this author on:
Steven A. Velinsky
e-mail: savelinsky@ucdavis.edu
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering,
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering,
University of California
,Davis, One Shields Avenue
,Davis, CA 95616
1Corresponding author.
Contributed by the Mechanisms and Robotics Committee of ASME for publication in the JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL DESIGN. Manuscript received February 17, 2012; final manuscript received February 25, 2013; published online April 23, 2013. Assoc. Editor: Kwun-Lon Ting.
J. Mech. Des. May 2013, 135(5): 051003 (10 pages)
Published Online: April 23, 2013
Article history
Received:
February 17, 2012
Revision Received:
February 25, 2013
Citation
Jones, M. H., and Velinsky, S. A. (April 23, 2013). "Contact Kinematics in the Roller Screw Mechanism." ASME. J. Mech. Des. May 2013; 135(5): 051003. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4023964
Download citation file:
Get Email Alerts
Multi-Lattice Topology Optimization Via Generative Lattice Modeling
J. Mech. Des (May 2025)
Spatial Packaging and Routing Optimization of Complex Interacting Engineered Systems
J. Mech. Des (July 2025)
Design and Evaluation of Three-Phalange Underactuated Adaptive LSDH Finger
J. Mech. Des (July 2025)
A Customer Journey Mapping Approach With Mobile Application
J. Mech. Des (July 2025)
Related Articles
Dynamic Modeling of the Double-Nut Planetary Roller Screw Mechanism Considering Elastic Deformations
J. Comput. Nonlinear Dynam (May,2021)
Kinematic Model of Planetary Roller Screw Mechanism With Run-Out and Position Errors
J. Mech. Des (March,2018)
Static Analysis of an Inverted Planetary Roller Screw Mechanism
J. Mechanisms Robotics (August,2016)
A Comprehensive Contact Analysis of Planetary Roller Screw Mechanism
J. Mech. Des (January,2017)
Related Proceedings Papers
Related Chapters
Experiences of Corps of Engineers in Compaction of Hot Asphalt Mixtures
Placement and Compaction of Asphalt Mixtures
Introduction
History of Line Pipe Manufacturing in North America
Reducing Cache Contention of L2 Shared Cache on Multi-Core Processor Architecture
International Conference on Mechanical and Electrical Technology, 3rd, (ICMET-China 2011), Volumes 1–3