POWER OR

TRANSLATIONAL
SCREWS
 INTRODUCTION
 Power or Translational screws are used to convert rotary motion into translatory motion.
 Power or Translational screw is a mechanical device used for converting rotary motion
into linear motion and transmitting power
Applications of Power Screw
 To obtain accurate motion in machining operations -For example, in the case of the
lead screw of lathe, the rotary motion is available but the tool has to be advanced in the
direction of the cut against the cutting resistance of the material.
 To raise load - In case of screw jack, a small force applied in the horizontal plane is used
to raise or lower a large load.
 To clamp a work piece- Power screws are also used in vices, testing machines, presses
 To load a specimen- Universal testing machine

 In most of the power screws, the nut has axial motion against the resisting axial force
while the screw rotates in its bearings.i.e lead screw
 In some screws, the screw rotates and moves axially against the resisting force while the
nut is stationary i.e. screw jack
 INTRODUCTION
Advantages of Power screws
 Power screw has large load carrying capacity

 Compact in construction

 Manufacturing of power screw is easy – no SPM are required

 Power screw has large Mechanical Advantage

 Power screw provides precise control and highly accurate linear

motion
 Provides smooth and noiseless service without any maintenance

 Power screws can designed with self locking property

 INTRODUCTION
Disadvantages of Power screws
 Power screw has poor efficiency about 40%

 High friction between threads causes wear of screw or nut

TYPES OF SCREW THREADS USED FOR
TRANSLATIONAL SCREWS
Three types of screw threads are mostly used for translational screws:
1. Square thread. A square thread, as shown, is adapted for the
transmission of power in either direction

 This thread results in maximum efficiency and minimum radial or

bursting pressure on the nut.
 It is difficult to cut with taps and dies.
 It is usually cut on a lathe with a single point tool and it can not be
easily compensated for wear.
 The square threads are employed in screw jacks, presses and
clamping devices.
TYPES OF SCREW THREADS
2. Acme and trapezoidal thread. An acme or trapezoidal thread, as
shown, is a modification of square thread.

30

 The slight slope given to its sides lowers the efficiency slightly than
square thread and it also introduces some bursting pressure on the
nut, but increases its area in shear.
 It is used where a split nut is required and where provision is made
to take up wear as in the lead screw of a lathe.
 Wear may be taken up by means of an adjustable split nut.
 An acme thread may be cut by means of dies and hence it is more
easily manufactured than square thread.
 TYPES OF SCREW THREADS
3. Buttress thread. A buttress thread, as shown is used when large
forces act along the screw axis in one direction only.

This thread combines the higher efficiency of square thread

and the ease of cutting and the adaptability to a split nut of
acme thread.
It is stronger than other threads because of greater thickness
at the base of the thread.

The buttress thread has limited use for power transmission.

It is employed as the thread for light jack screws and vices
MULTIPLE THREADED SCREWS
 The power screws with multiple threads such as double,
triple etc. are employed when it is desired to secure a
higher travelling speed. It also referred as multiple start
screws
 Such type of threads are usually found in high speed
actuators.
MULTIPLE THREADED SCREWS
Advantages of multiple threaded screws
o It provides large axial motion per revolution of screw.
o Efficiency of multiple threaded screws is more than
single threaded screws due to increase in helix angle

Disadvantages of multiple threaded screws

o The Mechanical advantage obtained with multiple
threaded screws is lower than that of single threaded
screw
o Self locking property is lost in multiple threaded screws
TERMINOLOGY OF POWER SCREW

(i) Pitch: The pitch is defined as the

distance, measured parallel to the axis
of the screw, from a point on one
thread to the corresponding point on
the adjacent thread. It is denoted by the
letter 'p‘ .

(ii) Lead: The lead is defined as the

distance, measured parallel to the axis
of the screw, that the nut will advance
in one revolution of the screw . It is
denoted by the letter 'l', For a single-
threaded screw, the lead is same as the
pitch, for a double-threaded screw, the
lead is twice of the pitch, and so on.
TERMINOLOGY OF POWER SCREW

(iii) Nominal diameter: Nominal

diameter is the largest diameter of the
screw, It is also called major diameter.
It is denoted by the letter 'd'.

(iv) Core diameter: Core diameter is

smallest diameter of the screw thread.
It also called minor diameter. It is
denoted by letters 'dc'.
TERMINOLOGY OF POWER SCREW

(v)Helix angle: The helix angle is defined

as the angle made by the helix of the
thread with a plane perpendicular to the
axis of the screw . Helix angle is
related to the lead and the mean
diameter of the screw. It is also called
lead angle. Helix angle is denoted by .
TERMINOLOGY OF POWER SCREW

 From fig.

dc  d   p  p   (d  P )
 2 2 

 dm mean dia. Can be given by

1 1
d m   d  d c    d  (d  P )   (d  .5 p )
2 2
TERMINOLOGY OF POWER SCREW
If one complete turn of a screw thread be
imagined to be unwound, from the body
of the screw and developed, it will form
an inclined plane as shown in fig.
This can be imagined by cutting paper in
the form of the right-angle triangle with
base equal to dm and height equal to l.
This paper around a rod with diameter dm.

The hypotenuse of the triangle become the thread around the

rod. Considering this right-angle triangle, the relationship
between helix angle ,mean diameter and lead can be
expressed in the form,
tan   l /  d m
where α is the helix angle of the thread
 TORQUE REQUIRED TO RAISE
LOAD BY SQUARE THREADED
SCREWS

Let p = Pitch of the screw;

dm = Mean diameter of the screw;
α = Helix angle;
P = Effort applied at the circumference of the screw to lift the load;
W = Load to be lifted, and
μ = Coefficient of friction, between the screw and nut = tanφ, where φ
is the friction angle
Since the principle, on which a screw jack works is similar to
that of an inclined plane, therefore, the force applied on the
circumference of a screw jack may be considered to be
horizontal as shown in figure b

Since the load is being lifted, therefore the force of friction

(F = μ.RN ) will act downwards
Resolving the forces along the plane:
Pcosα = Wsinα + F = Wsinα + μ.RN ...(i)
and resolving the forces perpendicular to the plane:
RN = Psinα + Wcosα ...(ii)
Substituting this value of RN in equation (i), we have:
Pcosα = Wsinα + μ(Psi α + Wcos α)
= Wsinα + μPsinα + μWcos α
or Pcosα – μPsinα = Wsinα + μWcosα
or P(cosα – μsinα) = W(sinα + μcosα)
Substituting the value of μ = tan φ in the above equation, we get:

Multiplying the numerator and denominator by cosφ, we have:

∴ Torque required to raise the load is given by

pd m Wd m
Mt 
2 Mt  tan(   )
2
TORQUE REQUIRED TO LOWER LOAD
BY
SQUARE THREADED SCREWS
 When the load is being lowered, the force of friction (F =
μ.RN) will act upwards. All the forces acting on the body are
shown

Resolving the forces along the plane:

Pcosα = F – Wsinα
= μRN – Wsinα ..(i)
and resolving the forces perpendicular to the plane:
RN = Wcosα – Psinα ..(ii)
Substituting this value of RN in equation (i), we have,
Pcosα = μ(Wcosα – Psinα) – Wsinα
= μWcosα – μPsinα – Wsinα
or Pcosα + μPsinα = μWcosα – Wsinα
P(cosα + μsinα) = W(μcosα – sinα)

Substituting the value of μ = tanφ in the above equation, we

have:
Multiplying the numerator and denominator by cosφ:

∴ Torque required to lower the load is given by

Wd m
Mt  tan(   )
2
OVERHAULING OF SCREW
Torque required to lower the load is given by

Wd m
Mt  tan(   )
2
it can be seen that when,
 
the torque required to lower the load is negative. It indicates
a condition that no force is required to lower the load.

The load itself will begin to turn the screw and descend
down, unless a restraining torque is applied. This condition
is called 'overhauling' of screw.
SELF LOCKING SCREW

When
  
A positive torque is required to lower the load. Under this
condition, the load will not turn the screw and will not descend
on its own unless effort P is applied. The screw is said to be
'self-locking' .

tan   tan 
  l /  dm
SELF LOCKING SCREW
A screw be self-locking if the coefficient of friction is equal to
or greater than the tangent of the helix angle.
tan   tan 
  l /  dm
Self-locking of screw is not possible when the coefficient of
friction is low. The coefficient of friction between the surfaces
of the screw and the nut is reduced by lubrication .
Excessive lubrication may cause the load to descend on its own.
Self-locking property of the screw is lost when the lead is large.
The lead increases with number of starts. For double-start
thread, lead is twice of the pitch and for triple threaded screw,
three times of pitch. Therefore, single threaded screw is better
than multiple threaded screw from self locking considerations.
 EFFICIENCY OF SQUARE THREADED SCREW
Refer to force diagram for lifting the load , Suppose load W
moves from the lower end to the upper end of the inclined plane.
The output consists of raising the load
Work output = force x distance
travelled in the
direction of force
= Wxl

The input consists of rotating the screw by means of an effort

P.
Work input = force x distance travelled in the
direction of force
= P X  dm
The efficiency of the screw is given by,
wl W tan 
   tan  
P d m P tan(   )
 EFFICIENCY OF SELF LOCKING SCREW
The efficiency of the screw is given by,
tan 

tan(   )
For self locking screw
  

Substituting the limiting value in above equation

Efficiency of self locking screw is less than 50%

 TORQUE REQUIRED TO OVERCOME
COLLAR FRICTION
 In many applications of the power screw,
there is collar friction in addition to the
friction at the thread surface. The cup
remains stationary under the action of
load W, while the collar which is integral
with the screw rotates, when the load
raised or lowered.
 Therefore, there is relative motion
between the cup & the collar at the
annular interface from diameter Di, to Do.
This relative motion results in friction
called collar friction. The torque required
to overcome this collar friction torque
(Mt)c can be determined by using
uniform pressure theory or uniform wear
theory.
 According to the uniform pressure theory

cW Do3  Di3

 Mt  c 
3 Do2  Di2
 According to the uniform wear theory,

cW
 Mt  c   Do  Di 
4
c =coefficient of friction at the collar.
Do=outer diameter of the collar (mm).
Di=inner diameter of the collar (mm).
=collar friction torque (N-mm).
 Mt  c
Uniform pressure theory is applicable when the collar
surface is new.
Uniform wear theory is applicable to the collar surface
after the initial wear.
∴ Total torque required to overcome friction (i.e. to rotate the screw):

=External torque required to raise the load (N-mm).

Mt = Torque required to overcome friction at the thread
surface
(Mt )c = collar friction torque (N-mm).

If an effort P is applied at the end of a lever of arm length l,

then the total torque required to overcome friction must be
equal to the torque applied at the end of lever, i.e.
OVERALL EFFICIENCY OF SQUARE
THREADED SCREWS
Efficiency is defined as ratio of Work output to work input

Work output= W x l
Work input = x 2

ηo =

=
STRESSES IN SCREW AND NUT
 The body of screw subjected to an axial
force W and torsional moment (Mt)t as
shown in fig.
 The compressive stress is given by

 The torsional shear stress is given by

 The principal shear stress is given by

c 
     2
 2 
STRESSES IN SCREW AND NUT
 The threads of the screw which are engaged with the
nut are subjected to transverse shear stresses. The
screw will tend to shear off the threads at the core
diameter under the action of the load W. The shear
area of one thread is given by

 The transverse shear stresses in the nut are determined

in a similar way. Under the action of load W, the
thread of the nut will tend to shear off at the nominal
diameter. The shear area of one thread is

 dt
STRESSES IN SCREW AND NUT
 The bearing pressure between the contacting surfaces
of the screw & the nut is an important consideration
in design.
 The bearing area between the screw & the nut for one

thread is 4
2
d d 
2
c

W
Sb 
 2
4
 d  d c  z
2

 Where z=no of threads in engagement with nut

BUCKLING OF COLUMNS
 When a short member is subjected to axial
compressive force, it shortens according to Hooke 's
law.
 As the load is gradually increased, the compression
of the member increases. When the compressive
stress reaches the elastic limit of the material, the
failure occurs in the form of bulging. However, when
the length of the component is large compared with
the cross-sectional dimensions, as shown in Fig. ,the
component may fail under lateral buckling. The load
at which the buckling starts is called critical load
which is denoted by Pcr.
BUCKLING OF COLUMNS
 when the axial load on the column reaches Pcr there is
sudden buckling & a relatively large lateral defection
occurs.
 In case of buckling there is no gradual lateral
deflection till the load reaches the critical load. At this
point there is sudden lateral deflection which results
in collapse of column. The failure due to buckling is
sudden & without prior warning.
 An important parameter affecting the critical load is
slenderness ratio.
BUCKLING OF COLUMNS
 when the axial load on the column reaches Pcr there is
sudden buckling & a relatively large lateral defection
occurs.
 In case of buckling there is no gradual lateral
deflection till the load reaches the critical load. At this
point there is sudden lateral deflection which results
in collapse of column. The failure due to buckling is
sudden & without prior warning.
 An important parameter affecting the critical load is
slenderness ratio.
 Slenderness ratio=

Where l=length of column & k=radius of gyration

BUCKLING OF COLUMNS
 when the axial load on the column reaches Pcr there is
sudden buckling & a relatively large lateral defection
occurs.
 In case of buckling there is no gradual lateral
deflection till the load reaches the critical load. At this
point there is sudden lateral deflection which results
in collapse of column. The failure due to buckling is
sudden & without prior warning.
 An important parameter affecting the critical load is
slenderness ratio.
 Slenderness ratio=

Where l=length of column & k=radius of gyration

BUCKLING OF COLUMNS

where
I=moment of inertia of c/s in mm4
A=area of c/s in mm2
 When slenderness ration is less than 30 there is no effect
of buckling & such components are designed on the basis
of compressive stresses.
 Column with slenderness ration more than 30 are
designed on the basis of critical load. There are two
methods for calculating critical load-Eulers equation &
Jonshons equation
BUCKLING OF COLUMNS
According to Euler
n 2 EA
Pcr  2
l
 
k

n=end fixity coefficient

E=Modulus of Elasticity
A=area of c/s
End conditions n

Both ends hinged 1

Both ends fixed 4
One end fixed & other end hinged 2
One end fixed & other end free 0.25
 BUCKLING OF COLUMNS
According to Johnsons equation
 S yt  l 2 
Pcr  S yt A 1    
 4n E  k  
2

=yield strength of the material

Euler's equation suitable for long columns & Jonson's

equation used for short columns.
The boundary between short & long column is

The ratio obtained by above equation is called critical

slenderness ratio
 BUCKLING OF COLUMNS
When the actual slenderness ratio is less than
critical slenderness ratio ,screw to be treated as short
column & Johnson’s equation is used

When the actual slenderness ratio is grater than critical

slenderness ratio, screw to be treated as long column &
Euler's equation is used
EXAMPLE
A vertical two start square threaded screw of a 100mm mean
diameter and 20mm pitch supports a vertical load of 18kN.
The axial thrust on the screw is taken by a collar bearing of
250mm outside diameter and 100mm inside diameter. Find
the force required at the end of a lever which is 400mm long
in order to lift and lower the load. The coefficient of friction
for the vertical screw and nut is 0.15 and that for collar
bearing is 0.20.
Given: d = 100mm; p = 20mm; W = 18kN = 18 × 103N ; D2 =
250mm or R2 = 125mm; D1 = 100mm or R1 = 50mm; l =
400mm; μ = tanφ = 0.15; μ1 = 0.20
Solution:
Force required at the end of lever
Let P = Force required at the end of lever
EXAMPLE
Since the screw is a two start square threaded screw, therefore
lead of the screw = 2p = 2 × 20 = 40mm

1. For raising the load

We know that tangential force required at the circumference of
the screw:

And mean radius of collar:

EXAMPLE
∴ Total torque required at the end of lever:

The torque required at the end of lever (T):

569150 = P1 × l = P1 × 400 or P1 = 569150/400 = 1423N
2. For lowering the load
The tangential force required at the circumference of the screw:
EXAMPLE
Torque required at the end of the lever:

The torque required at the end of lever (T):

335315 = P1 × l = P1 × 400 or
P1 = 335315/400 = 838.3N