Ball Screws for the Aerospace Market

A new ball screw manufactured by Steinmeyer has been specified for the horizontal stabilizer trim actuator of a new regional jet, officially launched at the Paris Air Show in June.

The Horizontal Trim Actuator has been developed and produced by Liebherr- Aerospace Lindenberg GmbH, Germany, responsible for the complete Fly-by-Wire Flight Control System of the new regional jet. The ability to withstand stress is an important factor in the design of flight critical components. All structural parts need to be tested under maximum stress levels. For that purpose, design engineers at Steinmeyer simulated different load scenarios.

All parts of the horizontal stabilizer trim actuator were modeled in 3D using SolidWorks software. Various load conditions for all structural parts were analyzed with Finite Element Method (FEM) stress analysis and the design adjusted accordingly where necessary, especially where safety was concerned. The ball screw in the actuator has a special fail-safe feature, causing an alarm to be triggered if the load limit is exceeded.

The ball screw is designed to operate 60,000 flight cycles safely and accurately. It is made from Cronidur30 steel, a stainless steel specifically developed for aerospace applications. To make the component fit for the flight critical application, special care had to be taken during the manufacturing process, which involves grinding of steel parts and can lead to grinder burn with dangerous consequences.

Steinmeyer, Inc.
Burlington, MA
steinmeyer.com