Selecting Compatible Lead Screws and Nuts
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About Shafts
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Keyed Rotary Shafts
Combine these shafts with a machine key (not included) to transmit torque to gears, sprockets, and other power transmission components. All have an ANSI standard keyway (keys not included; see our selection of key stock). Their edges are chamfered to remove sharp corners, reducing damage to bearings, housings, and other components during installation. All are turned, ground, or polished to tight diameter and straightness tolerances.
Steel shafts are generally stronger than aluminum and stainless steel shafts but not as corrosion resistant. 1045 carbon steel shafts balance high strength and good machinability, making them ideal for general purpose use.
Keyway | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lg. | Lg. | Wd. | Dp. | ANSI Keys Included | Straightness Tolerance | Edge Type | Hardness Rating  | Hardness | Each | |
Inch—1045 Carbon Steel | ||||||||||
1 5/16" Dia. (Tolerance: -0.003" to 0") | ||||||||||
| 3" | 3" | 0.313" | 5/32" | No | 0.013" per ft. | Chamfered | Medium | Rockwell B95 | 00000000 | 000000 |
| 9" | 9" | 0.313" | 5/32" | No | 0.013" per ft. | Chamfered | Medium | Rockwell B95 | 00000000 | 00000 |
| 12" | 12" | 0.313" | 5/32" | No | 0.013" per ft. | Chamfered | Medium | Rockwell B95 | 00000000 | 00000 |
| 18" | 18" | 0.313" | 5/32" | No | 0.013" per ft. | Chamfered | Medium | Rockwell B95 | 00000000 | 00000 |
| 24" | 24" | 0.313" | 5/32" | No | 0.013" per ft. | Chamfered | Medium | Rockwell B95 | 00000000 | 00000 |
| 36" | 36" | 0.313" | 5/32" | No | 0.013" per ft. | Chamfered | Medium | Rockwell B95 | 00000000 | 000000 |
| 48" | 48" | 0.313" | 5/32" | No | 0.013" per ft. | Chamfered | Medium | Rockwell B95 | 00000000 | 000000 |
| 60" | 60" | 0.313" | 5/32" | No | 0.013" per ft. | Chamfered | Medium | Rockwell B95 | 00000000 | 000000 |
| 72" | 72" | 0.313" | 5/32" | No | 0.013" per ft. | Chamfered | Medium | Rockwell B95 | 00000000 | 000000 |
Low-Carbon Steel Rods and Discs
- Yield Strength: See table
- Hardness: See table
- Heat Treatable: Yes
- Max. Hardness After Heat Treatment: See table
- Fabrication: See table
- Specifications Met: See table
Also known as mild steel, low-carbon steel is easy to machine, form, and weld. It's widely fabricated into low-strength fasteners, pins, and axles. You can surface harden this material for added wear resistance. All have been manufactured to meet ASTM standards for quality and performance.
Cold-worked rods and discs have a finished look and quality. The cold-working process gives the steel consistent strength, hardness, and dimensions throughout.
Certificates with a traceable lot number are available for these products. Download certificates from ORDER HISTORY after your order ships.
High-Strength Easy-to-Machine 1144 Carbon Steel Rods
- Yield Strength: 100,000 psi
- Hardness:
Inch sizes: Rockwell C25 (Hard)
Metric sizes: Rockwell C19 (Medium) - Heat Treatable: Yes
- Max. Hardness After Heat Treatment: Not Rated
- Fabrication: Cold Drawn
- Specifications Met: ASTM A108, ASTM A311
Made with more carbon and manganese than other easy-to-machine carbon steels, 1144 carbon steel has a higher yield strength and hardness. Also known as Stressproof, these rods are stress-relieved to minimize warping during machining. Use them to fabricate parts that require stress resistance, such as gears, shafts, and bushings. For added wear resistance, these rods can be surface hardened with heat treating. All meet ASTM A108 and ASTM A311 standards for quality and performance.
Certificates with a traceable lot number are available for these products. Download certificates from ORDER HISTORY after your order ships.
Multipurpose 4140 Alloy Steel Rods and Discs
Also known as chrome-moly steel, this versatile alloy steel is used for a wide range of parts, such as gears, axles, shafts, collets, and die holders. It resists fracturing from repeated stress. For added wear resistance, the surface can be hardened with heat treating. These rods and discs have been manufactured to meet ASTM standards for quality and performance.
Note: Rods and discs may be made from either 4140 or 4142 alloy steel. They are interchangeable in most applications.
Cold-worked steel rods and discs have a smooth, polished finish. They also have consistent mechanical properties and highly accurate dimensions.
Certificates with a traceable lot number are available for these products. Download certificates from ORDER HISTORY after your order ships.
- Yield Strength: 60,000 psi
- Hardness: Rockwell C10 (Medium)
- Heat Treatable: Yes
- Maximum Hardness After Heat Treatment: Not Rated
- Fabrication: See table
- Specifications Met: See table
Tight-Tolerance Easy-to-Machine W1 Tool Steel Rods
- Yield Strength: 50,000 psi
- Hardness: Rockwell B95 (Medium)
- Heat Treatable: Yes
- Max. Hardness After Heat Treatment: Rockwell C65
- Fabrication: Hot Rolled
- Specifications Met: ASTM A686
Made with lower amounts of alloy elements than other tool steels, these W1 rods are highly machinable. Also called drill rods, they are precision ground and held to strict diameter and straightness tolerances. They’re ready to be turned on a lathe. These rods are decarb-free, which means any surface flaws created during the manufacturing process have been removed. This makes them more machinable and leads to better results from heat treating or finishing. You can harden the surface with heat treating for added wear resistance or water harden for added strength. These rods are often used to make hammers, files, and reamers. All have been manufactured to meet ASTM A686 standards for quality and performance.
Certificates with a traceable lot number are available for these products. Download certificates from ORDER HISTORY after your order ships.
Tight-Tolerance Multipurpose Oil-Hardening O1 Tool Steel Rods
- Yield Strength: 50,000 psi
- Hardness: Rockwell B90 (Medium)
- Heat Treatable: Yes
- Maximum Hardness After Heat Treatment: Rockwell C65
- Fabrication: Hot Rolled
- Specifications Met: ASTM A681
Ready for turning in a lathe, these rods are precision ground to a tight diameter tolerance. They’re also known as drill rod. Often used for dies, punches, and gauges, O1 tool steel is an oil-hardening material that resists wear and abrasion. It can also be surface hardened with heat treating for added wear resistance. These rods have been manufactured to meet ASTM A681 standards for performance and quality.
Certificates with a traceable lot number are available for these products. Download certificates from ORDER HISTORY after your order ships.
Multipurpose 304 Stainless Steel
From cookware to chemical-processing equipment, 304 stainless steel is a good all-around choice for a wide range of applications. It maintains its corrosion resistance in temperatures up to 1500° F.
304/304L stainless steel contains less carbon than standard 304 for better weldability.
Certificates with a traceable lot number are available for these products. Download certificates from ORDER HISTORY after your order ships.
- Yield Strength: 30,000 psi
- Hardness: Rockwell B75 (Medium)
- Heat Treatment: Annealed (Softened)
- Heat Treatable: No
- Specifications Met: ASTM A276
Easy-to-Machine 303 Stainless Steel
Widely used for fabricating fittings and fasteners, 303 stainless steel machines quickly without sticking to cutting tools. It maintains its corrosion resistance in temperatures up to 1500° F.
Certificates with a traceable lot number are available for these products. Download certificates from ORDER HISTORY after your order ships.
- Yield Strength: 25,000 psi
- Hardness:
Inch Sizes: Rockwell B77 (Medium)
Metric Sizes: Rockwell B85 (Medium) - Heat Treatment: Annealed (Softened)
- Heat Treatable: No
- Specifications Met:
Inch Sizes: ASTM A582
Metric Sizes: EN 10088-3
Tight-Tolerance Easy-to-Machine 303 Stainless Steel
This material has tighter tolerances than standard 303 stainless steel. Widely used for fabricating fittings and fasteners, 303 stainless steel machines quickly without sticking to cutting tools. It maintains its corrosion resistance in temperatures up to 1500° F.
Rods are precision ground and held to a strict straightness tolerance, so they are ready for turning in a lathe.
Certificates with a traceable lot number are available for these products. Download certificates from ORDER HISTORY after your order ships.
- Yield Strength: 35,000 psi
- Hardness: See Table
- Heat Treatment: Annealed (Softened)
- Heat Treatable: No
- Specifications Met: ASTM A582, SAE AMS5640
High-Strength 17-4 PH Stainless Steel
With a higher chromium content than 15-5 PH stainless steel, this high-strength 17-4 PH offers better corrosion resistance. It is also known as 630 stainless steel. This material maintains its corrosion resistance in temperatures up to 1100° F.
If you don't see the rod size you're looking for, please specify a length under additional rod lengths.
Certificates with a traceable lot number are available for these products. Download certificates from ORDER HISTORY after your order ships.
- Yield Strength: Not Rated
- Hardness: Rockwell C30 (Hard)
- Heat Treatment: Annealed (Softened)
- Heat Treatable: Yes
- Max. Hardness After Heat Treatment: Rockwell C45
- Specifications Met: ASTM A564, SAE AMS5643
- Yield Strength: Not Rated
- Hardness: Rockwell C30 (Hard)
- Heat Treatment: Annealed (Softened)
- Heat Treatable: Yes
- Max. Hardness After Heat Treatment: Rockwell C45
- Specifications Met: ASTM A564, SAE AMS5643
To Order: Please specify length in increments of 0.125" within the range listed.
| Dia. | Dia. Tolerance | Fabrication | Straightness Tolerance | Magnetic Properties | Choose a Length | Per Inch | |
| 1 5/16" | -0.003" to 0.003" | Cold Drawn | 1/16" per 5 ft. | Magnetic | 13"-90" | 000000000 | 00000 |
Corrosion-Resistant 316 Stainless Steel
The addition of molybdenum gives 316 stainless steel excellent corrosion resistance. Use it in a variety of marine and chemical-processing applications. It maintains its corrosion resistance up to the maximum temperature.
316/316L stainless steel contains less carbon than standard 316 for better weldability.
If you don’t see the rod size you’re looking for, please specify a length under additional rod lengths.
Certificates with a traceable lot number are available for these products. Download certificates from ORDER HISTORY after your order ships.
- Yield Strength:
Inch Sizes: 30,000 psi
Metric Sizes: 29,000 psi - Hardness:
Inch Sizes: Rockwell B75 (Medium)
Metric Sizes: Rockwell B80 (Medium) - Heat Treatment: Annealed (Softened)
- Heat Treatable: No
- Specifications Met:
Inch Sizes: ASTM A276
- Yield Strength: 30,000 psi
- Hardness: Rockwell B75 (Medium)
- Heat Treatment: Annealed (Softened)
- Heat Treatable: No
- Specifications Met: ASTM A276
To Order: Please specify length in increments of 0.125" within the range listed.
| Dia. | Dia. Tolerance | Fabrication | Max. Temp., °F | Straightness Tolerance | Choose a Length | Per Inch | |
316/316L Stainless Steel | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 5/16" | -0.003" to 0.003" | Cold Worked | 1500° | 1/8" per 5 ft. | 13"-90" | 000000000 | 00000 |
Easy-to-Machine 416 Stainless Steel
One of the most machinable types of stainless steel available, 416 contains sulfur for fast machining without clogging cutting tools. It's used for gears, screws, and shafts. This material maintains its corrosion resistance in temperatures up to 1200° F.
Certificates with a traceable lot number are available for these products. Download certificates from ORDER HISTORY after your order ships.
- Yield Strength: 40,000 psi
- Hardness: Rockwell B80 (Medium)
- Heat Treatment: Annealed
- Heat Treatable: Yes
- Max. Hardness After Heat Treatment: Rockwell C35
- Specifications Met: ASTM A582, SAE AMS5610, ASTM A484
Bearing-Quality 440C Stainless Steel
One of the hardest types of stainless steel after heat treating, 440C offers excellent wear and abrasion resistance. It’s often used for bearings, valves, and knife blades. This material maintains its corrosion resistance in temperatures up to 800° F.
Certificates with a traceable lot number are available for these products. Download certificates from ORDER HISTORY after your order ships.
- Yield Strength: 65,000 psi
- Hardness: Rockwell C20 (Hard)
- Heat Treatment: Annealed (Softened)
- Heat Treatable: Yes
- Max. Hardness After Heat Treatment: Rockwell C60
- Specifications Met: ASTM A276, SAE AMS5630
Ultra-Machinable 360 Brass Rods and Discs
- Yield Strength:
Inch sizes: 15,000 psi
Metric sizes: 23,000 psi - Hardness: See table
- Temper:
Inch sizes: H02 (1/2 Hard)
Metric sizes: 1/2 Hard - Heat Treatable: No
- Specifications Met:
Inch sizes: ASTM B16
Metric sizes: European Standard EN 12164
With the highest lead content of all the brass alloys, 360 offers the best machinability. Often called free-machining and free-cutting brass, it stands up to high-speed drilling, milling, and tapping operations with minimal wear on your tools. It’s commonly used for gears, pinions, and lock components.
Certificates with a traceable lot number are available for these products. Download certificates from ORDER HISTORY after your order ships.
Fast-Travel Ball Screws and Nuts
Multiple thread channels (also known as thread starts) create faster linear travel than ball screws with a single thread start. Internal ball bearings provide smooth low-friction travel in applications that require high speeds, accurate positioning, and repeatable movement. To ensure compatibility, select components that have the same thread size and number of thread starts. Ball nuts are furnished with a tube to keep ball bearings in place. Do not remove the tube until you are ready to install the nuts onto the screws.
Black-oxide alloy steel ball nuts have mild corrosion resistance.
Travel distance per turn, also known as screw lead, is the distance a ball nut moves with one revolution of the ball screw.
| Thread Size | Lg. | Dia. | No. of Thread Starts | Travel Distance per Turn | External Thread Size | Hardness | Dynamic Thrust Load Cap., lbs. | Max. Backlash | Temperature Range, °F | Each | ||
Black-Oxide Alloy Steel | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | 3/4"-4 | 2 15/16" | 1 5/16" | 2 | 0.5" | 1 1/4"-16 | Rockwell C56 | 3,400 | 0.015" | -65° to 300° | 00000000 | 0000000 |
Flange | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thread Size | Lg. | Dia. | Dia. | Thick. | No. of Thread Starts | Travel Distance per Turn | Bolt Circle Dia. | Hardness | Dynamic Thrust Load Cap., lbs. | Max. Backlash | Temperature Range, °F | Each | ||
Black-Oxide Alloy Steel | ||||||||||||||
| F | 3/4"-4 | 2 31/32" | 1 5/16" | 2 5/8" | 17/32" | 2 | 0.5" | 2 3/32" | Rockwell C56 | 3,400 | 0.015" | -65° to 300° | 00000000 | 0000000 |
Fast-Travel Corrosion-Resistant Ball Screws and Nuts
Multiple thread channels (also known as thread starts) create faster linear travel than ball screws with a single thread start. Suitable for use in harsh environments, these ball screws and nuts are made of stainless steel. Internal ball bearings provide smooth low-friction travel in applications that require high speeds, accurate positioning, and repeatable movement. To ensure compatibility, select components that have the same thread size. Ball nuts are furnished with a tube to keep ball bearings in place. Do not remove the tube until you are ready to install the nuts onto the screws.
Travel distance per turn, also known as screw lead, is the distance a ball nut moves with one revolution of the ball screw.
| Thread Size | Lg. | Dia. | No. of Thread Starts | Travel Distance per Turn | External Thread Size | Hardness | Dynamic Thrust Load Cap., lbs. | Max. Backlash | Temperature Range, °F | Each | |
17-4 PH Stainless Steel | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3/4"-4 | 2 15/16" | 1 5/16" | 2 | 0.5" | 1 1/4"-16 | Rockwell C38 | 600 | 0.007" | -65° to 300° | 0000000 | 0000000 |
Flange | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thread Size | Lg. | Dia. | Dia. | Thick. | No. of Thread Starts | Travel Distance per Turn | Bolt Circle Dia. | Hardness | Dynamic Thrust Load Cap., lbs. | Max. Backlash | Temperature Range, °F | Each | |
17-4 PH Stainless Steel | |||||||||||||
| 3/4"-4 | 2 15/16" | 1 5/16" | 2 19/32" | 17/32" | 2 | 0.5" | 2 3/32" | Rockwell C38 | 600 | 0.007" | -65° to 300° | 0000000 | 0000000 |