Nook Engineering Tools

Engineering Calculators

MODULAR ACTUATOR CALCULATOR – Determine the proper size based on application loads and life desired.

The calculator takes the inputs and assists in sizing the approate linear actuator for your aplication. Select the type of postitioning system on the left, carriage conifiguration, and the load data.

Modular Calcuator

BALL SCREW TORQUE – The amount of torque needed to drive a load with and with out preload.

The Excel based calculator takes the input parameters of a given PMBS ball screw assembly and determines the amount of torque required to move a given load. In addition, it calculates the drag torque variance due to preload.

PMBS Torque

HORSEPOWER – The amount of power needed to drive a load.

The calculator takes the input shaft speed and the torque required for a given load and derives the amount of horsepower or kilowatts expended. It can also back-calculate either the torque or the speed resulting from a particular power requirement.

HorsePower
Kilowatt

ACME NUT PV VALUE – An acme/trapezoid nut material limitation based on speed and pressure.

Unit pressure on the nut (P) and surface velocity at the nut/screw interface (V) limit the use of a particular material in an application because of the resulting heat build up and accelerated wear. All Nook Industries nut materials have a limiting PV value.

This calculator compares the actual operating load and speed against the PV rating of the chosen material. Calculations for both Nook BronzAC and PlastAC materials in inch and metric units are available.

Inch Plastic PV
Metric Plastic PV

BALL NUT LIFE – The expected life of a specific ball nut with a given load.

The calculator derives the expected life in inches of travel (Inch Calculator), or the expected number of revolutions (Metric Calculator) of a ball nut operating at a load which is different than the rated dynamic load.

Inch Ball Nut Life
Metric Ball Nut Life

CRITICAL SPEED – The input speed which excites the resonant frequency of a system.

The calculator uses the diameter, unsupported length and end fixity to determine the approximate rotational speed at which resonance will occur. It can also back-calculate to determine the diameter or length based on a specific screw rpm.

See the Acme Critical Speed Chart or the Ball Critical Speed Chart to verify the correct screw for the application.

Inch Critical Speed
Metric Critical Speed

COLUMN STRENGTH – The compression load at which a column will fail due to bending or buckling.

The calculator uses the diameter, unsupported length and end fixity to determine the approximate minimum diameter required to support a given load. It can also back-calculate to determine the diameter or length based on a specific load.

See the Acme Column Strength Chart or the Ball Column Strength Chart to verify the correct screw for the application.

Inch Column Strength
Metric Column Strength

UNIT CONVERSION – Conversion between Inch and Metric units.

Unit Converter