Dynamic analysis of a ball screw feed system with time-varying and piecewise-nonlinear stiffness

In this study, a single-degree-of-freedom model is established to investigate the dynamic characteristics of a single-nut double-cycle ball screw feed system by considering the contact states of the nonlinear kinematic joints. Based on fully considering the parameters of the ball screw feed system, the axial deformations and forces of the key components are calculated to construct a set of piecewise-nonlinear restoring force functions of the system displacement and worktable position. The variations of the contact stiffnesses of the kinematic joints and transmission stiffness of the system with different boundary conditions are analyzed and the results indicate that they all have abrupt changes when the system displacement reaches a critical value. The changing law of the system transmission stiffness in the whole stoke is discussed. Additionally, the effects of excitation force, worktable position and system mass on the dynamic characteristics of the system and its correlative components are analyzed.