THK Increased DIN Ballscrew Manufacture

THK, the leading European supplier of linear motion solutions, has increased manufacturing capacity for its range of precision rolled DIN standard (CP5) ballscrews, with the opening of extended production facilities at its TME plant in France. The new manufacturing lines at the factory will produce up to 6,000 units per month, providing THK with sufficient stock to meet growing European volume requirements. In particular, the new production facility will manufacture the latest versions of THK's CP5 DIN ballscrews, the EP and EB range of precision ground devices, which were previously supplied from the company's production centres in Japan. The latest EP and EB ballscrews are particularly suited to applications where high axial rigidity is required and are available with optional support units and precision finished shaft ends, in shaft diameters from 16mm to 50mm, with screw shaft lengths ranging from 1500mm to 4000mm. The EP range of ballscrews are single nut, preloaded devices, with the preload eliminating axial clearance and improving both overall rigidity and positioning accuracy. This makes them ideal for use in applications subject to heavy forces and loads, such as high performance machine tools. The EB range of ballscrews are 'without clearance' ball selection devices, with the steel balls used in the ballscrew nut having a four point contact geometry, as opposed to the standard two point; this makes the EB range particularly suited to transport screw and lighter load applications. Both the EP and EB range of ball screws can be specified with a choice of ball screw nuts, with different flanges and methods of controlling the recirculating inner balls, including a return tube or deflector plate. The return tube configuration automatically collects and returns balls to the beginning of the load zone, while the deflector plate configuration performs a similar operation, but allows a significantly lower profile nut to be used. In addition to a choice of support units and shaft ends, the screw shafts are available with bellows and screw covers, for protection against contamination from dirt and debris. Furthermore, for applications where a high concentration of dust particles may be present, labyrinth and brush seals are available. 'The precision rolled, DIN standard CP5 ball screws are one of our most popular products,' explains Andy Sim, branch manager of THK UK. 'With the availability of the latest EP and EB versions and our additional manufacturing capacity in Europe, we are now in an even stronger position to meet both the current and future production requirements of our customers throughout industry.