Ball Screws and Lead Screws

Ball Screws and Lead Screws

Ball screws and lead screws are threaded steel rods that convert rotary motion into linear motion using a matching load-carrying nut that moves and positions a load along a straight axis. Ball screws use recirculating ball bearings that roll between helical raceway grooves in the rod and nut to reduce friction and provide high efficiency, accuracy, and load capacity, while lead screws use direct sliding contact between matching threads on the rod and nut for simpler, more cost-effective linear motion. In a typical system, the rod rotates while the nut travels axially without rotating; other designs rotate the nut while the rod moves axially. The direction of travel depends on thread handedness and rotation direction, while screw lead—the axial distance traveled per full revolution—and rotational speed determine how far and how fast the nut or rod moves.

PBC Linear ball screws use helical grooves to guide recirculating ball bearings through the nut, providing low-friction linear motion with high efficiency and accurate, repeatable travel. Made in the USA from precision-rolled 1050 steel, PBC Linear ball screws are available in 6mm, 8mm, and 10mm diameters with 1mm, 2mm, and 2.5mm leads, providing six metric diameter-and-lead combinations. Matching ball screw nuts are available in cylindrical and flanged configurations and use a multi-liner ball-return system to continuously recirculate the balls, with polymer seals helping protect the internal rolling elements from contamination.

Lead screws use direct sliding contact between the threads of a steel rod and a matching nut to convert rotary motion into linear movement. PBC Linear PTFE-coated stainless steel lead screws provide corrosion resistance, low friction, low wear, and minimal coating flaking. Available in 6mm, 8mm, 10mm, 12mm, and 16mm diameters with a wide range of lead options, they can be paired with round, triangular, rectangular, or Constant-Force Anti-Backlash nuts to minimize axial play. Select PBC Linear ball screw and lead screw configurations are compatible with NEMA 08–23 motors or hand cranks, creating screw-driven linear actuators for compact positioning, adjustment, and automation applications.

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106 products
Miniature ball screw assembly with a 10 mm diameter, 2 mm lead, and 200 mm length, delivering precise, controlled linear motion in a compact form. The fine lead enables high positioning accuracy, while the robust design supports static axial loads up to 2.144 kN for strength and reliability. Built for..
$136.10
Miniature Ball Screw Assembly (6 mm, 1 mm, 250 mm). Extending the reach, this 250 mm ball screw assembly maintains compactness while allowing for longer linear motion, featuring a flanged nut to the right for easy integration into design frameworks. Ideal for applications requiring fine control and high load capacity...
$185.37
Miniature Ball Screw Assembly unique for its 2.5 mm lead and 8mm screw diameter. This 150mm long assembly provides faster travel per rotation, making it ideal for dynamic applications where speed and compact size are crucial. Higher lead for increased travel speed. Compact 150 mm length suitable for applications with..
$178.51
Miniature Ball Screw Assembly model with a 1mm screw lead and screw diameter of 8mm, which enhances the assembly's load-bearing capabilities. The 150mm length and flanged nut (threading to the right) make it versatile for medium-scale applications. 8 mm diameter provides enhanced strength and load capacity. The flanged nut (to..
$175.58
Ball Screw Assembly offering more extended travel with the reliability of an 8mm screw diameter and a lead of 1mm. This 250mm ball screw assembly is designed for projects requiring both precision and length. Designed to withstand demanding operational conditions with high static axial load capacity. Increased length for more..
$185.37
Ball screw assembly featuring a 10mm diameter screw and 2mm lead, with an extended 500mm length for applications requiring longer travel distances. The Grade 10 screw is made from induction-hardened 1050 steel. The cylindrical right-hand threaded flanged nut features a robust multi-liner ball return system, ensuring smooth, precise motion and..
$209.89
Ball Screw Assembly with a Flanged Nut, made in the USA with an 8mm screw diameter, a 2mm lead and a 150mm length. This model, designed for compact applications, features a flange nut to the right that simplifies both installation and removal. The flanged nut is engineered for easy attachment..
$175.58
Miniature Ball Screw Assembly with a 10mm diameter, a 2mm lead and length of 200mmm. The Grade 10 screw is made from induction-hardened 1050 steel. The cylindrical right-hand threaded flanged nut features a robust multi-liner ball return system, ensuring smooth, precise motion and enhanced durability. 10 mm diameter for high..
$180.47
Lead screw with a standard round nut, 508mm length, 16mm diameter, 5mm lead, and made of precision-rolled 300 Series stainless steel coated with PTFE to reduce friction and prevent flaking. With an exceptional lead accuracy of 0.003"/ft (76 µm/300 mm), the lead screw exceeds industry standards, providing improved straightness, a..
$129.20
Lead Screw with a Round Anti-Backlash Nut and a 16mm diameter, 5mm lead, and a length of 508mm, made from precision-rolled 300 Series Stainless Steel and coated with PTFE to prevent flaking. The Round Constant Force™ Anti-Backlash nut uses a spring to maintain uniform radial pressure, reducing backlash by 2-4..
$149.75
Lead screw with a standard round nut, 508mm length, 16mm diameter, 1mm lead, and made of precision-rolled 300 Series stainless steel coated with PTFE to reduce friction and prevent flaking. With an exceptional lead accuracy of 0.003"/ft (76 µm/300 mm), the lead screw exceeds industry standards, providing improved straightness, a..
$129.20
Lead Screw with a Round Anti-Backlash Nut and a 16mm diameter, 1mm lead, and a length of 508mm, made from precision-rolled 300 Series Stainless Steel and coated with PTFE to prevent flaking. The Round Constant Force™ Anti-Backlash nut uses a spring to maintain uniform radial pressure, reducing backlash by 2-4..
$149.75
Lead screw with a standard triangle nut, 12mm diameter, 5mm lead, 508mm length, and made of precision-rolled 300 Series stainless steel coated with PTFE to reduce friction and prevent flaking. With exceptional lead accuracy of 0.003"/ft (76 µm/300 mm) and precision straightening from the only automated CNC lead screw straightening..
$121.23
Lead screw with a standard round nut, 508mm length, 12mm diameter, 5mm lead, and made of precision-rolled 300 Series stainless steel coated with PTFE to reduce friction and prevent flaking. With an exceptional lead accuracy of 0.003"/ft (76 µm/300 mm), the lead screw exceeds industry standards, providing improved straightness, a..
$121.23
Lead screw with a standard triangle nut, 12mm diameter, 1mm lead, 508mm length, and made of precision-rolled 300 Series stainless steel coated with PTFE to reduce friction and prevent flaking. With exceptional lead accuracy of 0.003"/ft (76 µm/300 mm) and precision straightening from the only automated CNC lead screw straightening..
$121.23
Lead Screw with a Round Anti-Backlash Nut and a 12mm diameter, 5mm lead, and a length of 508mm, made from precision-rolled 300 Series Stainless Steel and coated with PTFE to prevent flaking. The Round Constant Force™ Anti-Backlash nut uses a spring to maintain uniform radial pressure, reducing backlash by 2-4..
$132.41
Lead screw with a standard round nut, 508mm length, 12mm diameter, 1mm lead, and made of precision-rolled 300 Series stainless steel coated with PTFE to reduce friction and prevent flaking. With an exceptional lead accuracy of 0.003"/ft (76 µm/300 mm), the lead screw exceeds industry standards, providing improved straightness, a..
$121.23
Lead Screw with a Round Anti-Backlash Nut and a 12mm diameter, 1mm lead, and a length of 508mm, made from precision-rolled 300 Series Stainless Steel and coated with PTFE to prevent flaking. The Round Constant Force™ Anti-Backlash nut uses a spring to maintain uniform radial pressure, reducing backlash by 2-4..
$132.41
Lead screw with a standard triangle nut, 10mm diameter, 5mm lead, 508mm length, and made of precision-rolled 300 Series stainless steel coated with PTFE to reduce friction and prevent flaking. With exceptional lead accuracy of 0.003"/ft (76 µm/300 mm) and precision straightening from the only automated CNC lead screw straightening..
$121.23
Lead Screw with a Round Anti-Backlash Nut and a 10mm diameter, 5mm lead, and a length of 508mm, made from precision-rolled 300 Series Stainless Steel and coated with PTFE to prevent flaking. The Round Constant Force™ Anti-Backlash nut uses a spring to maintain uniform radial pressure, reducing backlash by 2-4..
$132.41

Ball Screws and Lead Screws

106 products

Ball screws and lead screws are threaded steel rods that convert rotary motion into linear motion using a matching load-carrying nut that moves and positions a load along a straight axis. Ball screws use recirculating ball bearings that roll between helical raceway grooves in the rod and nut to reduce friction and provide high efficiency, accuracy, and load capacity, while lead screws use direct sliding contact between matching threads on the rod and nut for simpler, more cost-effective linear motion. In a typical system, the rod rotates while the nut travels axially without rotating; other designs rotate the nut while the rod moves axially. The direction of travel depends on thread handedness and rotation direction, while screw lead—the axial distance traveled per full revolution—and rotational speed determine how far and how fast the nut or rod moves.

PBC Linear ball screws use helical grooves to guide recirculating ball bearings through the nut, providing low-friction linear motion with high efficiency and accurate, repeatable travel. Made in the USA from precision-rolled 1050 steel, PBC Linear ball screws are available in 6mm, 8mm, and 10mm diameters with 1mm, 2mm, and 2.5mm leads, providing six metric diameter-and-lead combinations. Matching ball screw nuts are available in cylindrical and flanged configurations and use a multi-liner ball-return system to continuously recirculate the balls, with polymer seals helping protect the internal rolling elements from contamination.

Lead screws use direct sliding contact between the threads of a steel rod and a matching nut to convert rotary motion into linear movement. PBC Linear PTFE-coated stainless steel lead screws provide corrosion resistance, low friction, low wear, and minimal coating flaking. Available in 6mm, 8mm, 10mm, 12mm, and 16mm diameters with a wide range of lead options, they can be paired with round, triangular, rectangular, or Constant-Force Anti-Backlash nuts to minimize axial play. Select PBC Linear ball screw and lead screw configurations are compatible with NEMA 08–23 motors or hand cranks, creating screw-driven linear actuators for compact positioning, adjustment, and automation applications.


  • Ball Screw Diameters: 6, 8, and 10mm
  • Ball Screw Lead Sizes: 1, 2, and 2.5mm
  • Ball Screw Nut Fit: Standard and Transitional 
  • Ball Screw Nut Profiles: cylindrical, flanged and externally threaded cylindrical nuts
  • Lead Screw Diameters: 6, 8, 10, 12, and 16 mm
  • Lead Screw Lead Sizes: 1, 2, 2.5, 4, 5, 6, 8 , 10, 12, and 25mm
  • Lead Screws have round and triangular nuts
  • Lead Screws made of stainless steel with a PTFE coating to prevent flaking


More Features of Ball Screw & Lead Screw Assemblies

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a screw lead?
A screw lead is the distance a nut or screw moves axially in one full rotation. It is often confused with thread pitch, or the distance between adjacent threads measured along the screw. On a single-start screw, pitch equals lead; on multi-start screws, lead equals pitch multiplied by the number of thread starts.
What is the difference between screw pitch, screw start and screw lead?
Screw pitch is the axial distance between adjacent threads. A screw start is an independent thread path wrapped around the screw. Screw lead is the axial distance traveled in one full rotation. On a single-start screw, pitch and lead are the same. On multi-start screws, lead equals pitch multiplied by the number of starts.
What does axial movement mean?
Axial movement means motion along the lengthwise centerline of a shaft, screw, axle, or similar part. On a car or truck, axial movement would be motion along the axle from side to side, rather than spinning around it. In ball screw and lead screw systems, axial movement is the straight-line travel produced along the screw’s length.
What does NEMA mean?
NEMA refers to motor frame size standards from the National Electrical Manufacturers Association. In linear motion systems, NEMA sizes such as NEMA 08, 11, 17, or 23 describe the motor mounting face size, helping users match motors, mounts, and actuator assemblies.