Stainless steel ball screw MT-Frix™

high-precisionhigh-efficiency

Product overview
MT-Frix is a low-friction ball screw developed by NSK for machine tool applications. It reduces dynamic friction torque while maintaining nut rigidity and the ball screw's external dimensions, lowering heat generation and axial elongation to sustain high positioning accuracy and improve energy efficiency.

Availability
Already available for purchase. The product lowers dynamic friction torque and associated heat generation without changing ball screw dimensions or nut rigidity.

Background and development
MT-Frix addresses heat and positioning accuracy challenges in machine tools where ball screws mounted on linear drive units position tools and workpieces. Dynamic friction torque generates heat and causes shaft thermal expansion, degrading accuracy. NSK applied analytical technology to clarify ball-to-groove contact conditions and define optimized internal specifications that reduce dynamic friction torque without compromising nut rigidity or external dimensions.

Features and benefits

• Dynamic friction torque reduced by up to 50% compared with conventional alternatives.
• Heat generation reduced by up to 40%, limiting axial elongation and helping maintain positioning accuracy.
• Axial elongation reduced by up to 40% versus conventional products, reducing positioning degradation.
• Nut rigidity maintained despite lower friction torque, avoiding nut displacement and loss of machining accuracy.
• CO2 emissions related to dynamic friction torque reduced by up to 50%, contributing to energy savings and sustainability.
• No change to ball screw external dimensions required to achieve performance improvements.
• Developed using NSK analytical technology to optimise ball-to-groove contact and derive internal specifications that reduce torque while preserving rigidity.

Applications
Designed for machine tool applications requiring high positioning accuracy, reduced thermal expansion and improved energy efficiency.

Technical specifications

• Commercial name: MT-Frix
• Type: Low-friction ball screw for machine tools
• Manufacturer / Brand: NSK
• Availability: Already available for purchase
• Dynamic friction torque reduction: up to 50% (vs conventional alternatives)
• Heat generation reduction: up to 40% (vs conventional alternatives)
• Axial elongation reduction: up to 40% (vs conventional alternatives)
• CO2 emissions reduction (caused by dynamic friction torque): up to 50%
• Nut rigidity: maintained (no reduction despite friction torque improvements)
• Dimensions: no change to ball screw external dimensions required to achieve improvements
• Development method: NSK analytical technology clarifying ball-to-groove contact conditions to define optimal internal specifications