CARLOS GONZALEZ | Technology Editor

carlos.gonzalez@penton.com

Creating Larger
Forces with
Differential
Roller Screws

P
ower density is one of the primary reasons gears by forming (rolling), rather than undergo the
why design engineers and manufacturers time-consuming and expensive grinding process typi-
rely on hydraulics when they want their cally used to manufacture traditional roller screws.
machines to move something. Hydraulic Schaeffler’s PWG is characterized by very high pow-
systems offer very high force density in a compact, er density. The PWG’s large number of contact points
relatively economical design. But inherent drawbacks between the planets and spindle enable it to achieve
to hydraulics are leading design engineers and manu- very high axial load-carrying capacity. Applications
facturers to consider an electromechanical system as for the PWG include power tools, sheet-metal bend-
an alternative to its hydraulic counterpart. One way to ing machines, locking cylinders for plastic-injection-
do this is by replacing the hydraulic cylinder with an molding machines, and riveting and cutting devices.
actuator and screw driven by an electric motor. The PWG is currently in volume-production use in
The roller screw’s ability to generate two to five times automotive clutch actuators.
the force of an equivalent
ball screw makes it an
excellent replacement for
a hydraulic system. How- Spacer disc
ever, due to the precise
Nut half I
grinding tolerances need-
ed to achieve the load-
sharing properties, roller Planetary disc

screws can be expensive. Nut half II

Retaining ring
To address this issue,
Schaeffler (www.schaef-
Planets
fler.com) recently devel-
Spindle
oped the PWG differen-
tial roller screw, which
offers the high forces of a
traditional roller screw at
a price point closer to that
of a ball screw.
The key to the PWG’s
affordability is Schaef- Schaeffler’s PWG differential roller screw—whose spindle and planets are manufactured
fler’s ability to manufac- using forming, instead of traditional grinding, methods—is characterized by a very high power
ture its spindle and planet density. (Image courtesy of Schaeffler)

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