Non-Recirculating Roller Screw

This technology was developed as a key element of the camera focusing mechanism for NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission led by the University of Arizona, which was recently launched on a sample retrieval mission to the near-earth asteroid Bennu. This invention meets the demanding requirements of the OSIRIS-REx mission including high precision and reliability as well as low power and has other significant advantages that can be applied to a wide range of commercial applications.

Background:
Existing precision roller screw products cannot stand up to the demanding requirements for the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft for precision, reliability and power. These issues led NASA to look to the University of Arizona to create the non-recirculating roller screw that was suitable for the environment and length of the OSIRIS-REx mission.

Applications:

• Defense/aerospace
• Industrial/manufacturing equipment control
• Factory automation
• Volumetric filling
• Positioning systems

Advantages:

• Lower cost to manufacture, use and maintain
• Higher reliability and longer life
• Less power required for the given load
• Requires fewer parts
• Less complex to assemble and reassemble
• Minimizes lubricant, debris and galling
• Possesses less torque