Methods of making ball nuts for preloaded ball nut and screw assemblies

摘要

A method of making ball screw and nut assemblies, and the products which result, wherein the nut is provided with a deformable wall portion of decreased compressive strength interjacent the ends of the nut. A compressive force is applied to the nut to axially deform the portion of decreased compressive strength while not changing the lead of adjacent lands and grooves in the non-compressed portion of the nut. The axial position of the lands and grooves in the non-compressed portion is thereby axially displaced such as to preload a recirculating train of balls traveling along the non-compressed portion of the nut relative to the lands and grooves of the screw, when the screw, nut, and balls are assembled.