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Analysis of the differences in ball screw lead

February 05, 2026

In the professional field of ball screws, "lead" refers to the distance the nut travels axially during one revolution of the screw.

For buyers, choosing between a large lead and a small lead essentially involves balancing speed with accuracy/thrust. Below is a comparison of the key differences between the two.

Feature	High Lead Ball Screw	Low Lead Ball Screw
Movement Speed	Extremely fast. Suitable for high-frequency, rapid positioning scenarios.	Slower. Suitable for fine adjustments and slow feed.
Positioning Accuracy	Relatively low. A large lead means that the rotation angle is more sensitive to the effect of displacement.	Extremely high. Small pulse equivalent, resulting in more precise micro-displacement control.
Load Capacity	Lower. Under the same driving torque, the axial thrust generated is smaller.	It is relatively high. By utilizing the principle of helix angle in the thread, it can generate greater axial thrust.
Self-Locking	It is prone to reversible transmission. When used vertically, the load is prone to sliding down due to gravity.	Good. Although ball screws generally have poor self-locking properties, they are relatively more stable with a small lead.
Temperature Rise And Noise	High-speed operation easily generates heat and requires high dynamic balance.	It operates smoothly with relatively low noise and heat generation.

Large Lead: The "Sprinter" for Efficiency

Large lead screws (such as 25mm in diameter, 25mm or larger lead) are primarily used in high-speed automated equipment.

Advantages: Achieves extremely high linear speeds even at relatively low motor speeds. This reduces motor heat generation and extends the lifespan of the drive system.

Challenges: Due to the large thread helix angle, it places higher demands on the motor's braking capability (brake). When installed vertically, a holding brake motor must be used; otherwise, the nut is highly susceptible to falling due to gravity after power failure.

Small Lead: The "Precision Needle" for Power

Small lead screws (such as 25mm in diameter, 4mm or 5mm lead) are the preferred choice for machine tools and precision measuring instruments.

Advantages: High mechanical magnification. For the same motor output torque, a smaller lead can translate into greater cutting or compressive force. Simultaneously, it offers higher resolution, achieving micron-level precision positioning.

Challenges: High-speed movement requires a significant increase in motor speed, which may trigger the lead screw's "critical speed," causing resonance or severe vibration.

3. Application Scenarios Recommendations

Situations requiring a large lead:

Woodworking machinery, laser cutting machines (requiring rapid idle return), handling robots.

Automated production lines requiring high cycle times.

Situations requiring a small lead:

CNC machining centers, CNC grinding machines (requiring heavy-duty cutting and high precision), laboratory precision displacement stages, injection molding machine injection mechanisms (requiring enormous thrust).