{
  "abstract": "This disclosure describes a ball screw preload retention mechanism employing a split nut assembly with an interposed compliant spacer. The arrangement addresses the issue of preload degradation in ball screw systems due to wear, which typically results in increasing backlash and subsequent positional inaccuracy long before the ball screw itself reaches its mechanical wear limit. By dynamically maintaining a consistent preload force, the system extends the useful service life of linear motion actuators. The compliant spacer continuously exerts an axial force on the split nut halves, compensating for material loss and preventing the premature onset of significant backlash, thereby preserving accuracy and operational efficiency.",
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  "categories": [
    "industrial-motion-power-transmission/linear-motion/ball-screws",
    "industrial-motion-power-transmission/condition-monitoring/vibration-monitoring"
  ],
  "extent": {
    "figures": 2,
    "paragraphs": 17,
    "words": 2561
  },
  "figures": [
    {
      "caption": "A block diagram illustrating the primary functional components of the ball screw preload retention system.",
      "derivative": {
        "file": "figures/fig-001.png",
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    {
      "caption": "An elevation view showing the arrangement of the split nut halves and the compliant spacer on the ball screw.",
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  "keywords": [
    "ball screw",
    "preload retention",
    "split nut",
    "compliant spacer",
    "linear motion",
    "backlash compensation",
    "wear compensation",
    "axial force",
    "drag torque",
    "service life"
  ],
  "language": "en",
  "license": {
    "name": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International",
    "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"
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  "publication_id": "OT-2026-000000042",
  "published_at": "2026-09-15T11:44:31.791134Z",
  "publisher": "Nebula Innovations Limited",
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  "supersedes": null,
  "title": "Ball Screw Preload Retention with Compliant Spacer Split Nut",
  "uuid": "01a0a4e2-082c-7132-ae40-0cd4e46c6ef0"
}