Before you specify a rotary ball spline, ask the question: "Should the rotary spline nut be riding on angular contact ball bearings or crossed roller bearings?" After ascertaining your application's requirements - stroke length, velocity, applied load, mounting space, duty cycle, required life, dimensions, installation direction, environment and accuracy - you're ready to factor in the pros and cons of the two technologies.
If you are considering a rotary ball spline, you know that in addition to a ball spline's forte – transference of torque – the rotary ball spline adds a nut that rotates on the ball spline shaft making the unit capable of simultaneous linear and rotary motion with sub-millimeter accuracy.
These linear and rotational capabilities would seem perfectly suited to a multitude of automation applications. This white paper teaches you the basics of ball spline technology and discusses how design considerations make choosing which kind of rotary ball spline critical.