Aluminum Lead Screws for Lightweight and Non-Magnetic Applications
For lightweight or non-magnetic applications in the medical, aerospace, and transportation industry, aluminum lead screws are the ideal solution.
Manufacturing lead screws from different materials is quite common. Aside from alloy and stainless steel, aluminum can also be used. Aluminum lead screws are often utilized when the overall weight of the assembly or machine is critical. Aluminum lead screws are often a solution in the medical, aerospace, and transportation industry for lightweight or non-magnetic uses. Examples of these applications include:
- Airline seat actuators
- Bus and train door opening systems in the transportation industry
- Flight surfaces on drones in the aerospace industry
Aluminum screws are manufactured with the same precision as alloy and stainless-steel lead screws and can be coated with Teflon/PTFE or anodized with Teflon.
The Use of Aluminum Lead Screws in The Medical Industry
Aluminum lead screws are ideal in machines that operate with magnetic fields, such as MRI machines. Aluminum lead screws are used on patient beds in the MRI machine, raising and lowering the surface and moving the patient in and out of the machine. Aluminum lead screws combined with nuts manufactured from high-performance peek or blended acetals to accommodate the magnetic environment.
The Use of Aluminum Lead Screws in The Aerospace Industry
Aluminum lead screws have numerous applications in the aerospace industry. Several examples include airline seat actuators and drone flight surface control. The redesign of airline seat actuators using aluminum lead screws provided significant weight and cost reductions while making the seats highly adjustable and more comfortable for passengers.
Aluminum lead screws are also critical in the control of flight surfaces on drones. Aluminum lead screws are also used in onboard flight control and launching systems for drones. The lightweight control and positioning are made possible with aluminum lead screws and specialty hollow lead screws.
Read more about the use of lead screws in aerospace applications: HERE.
The Use of Aluminum Lead Screws in The Transportation Industry
In the transportation industry, aluminum lead screws are commonly used in bus and train door-opening systems. Door opening systems ensure doors can open and close quickly, accurately, and safely. Twin lead screws manufactured from aluminum (with both left and right-hand threads on the same lead screw) allow the lightweight system to operate with reduced maintenance and increased lead screw efficiency.
As technology advances in these industries, applications will continue to demand lighter, more cost-effective linear motion products. The innovative engineering team at Helix Linear Technologies can help you determine the ideal materials and design elements necessary to succeed in your application.
Contact us today for a consultation.