Linear Axis Testbed at IMS Center - Run-to-Failure Experiment 01

A linear axis testbed at the Center for Intelligent Maintenance Systems (IMS Center) at the University of Cincinnati was run to failure (the detection of backlash) over one year with periodic data collected from an inertial measurement unit (IMU) on the carriage, two triaxial accelerometers on the ball nut, and the controller. The IMU and its associated data acquisition (DAQ) equipment and software were provided by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), while the two triaxial accelerometers on the ball nut and its associated DAQ equipment and software were provided by the IMS Center. The linear axis components, including the ball screw, the motor, and the controller were provided by HIWIN Technologies Corp. in collaboration with the IMS Center.Ball screws play a critical role in maintaining the operational accuracy and reproducibility of production systems. Over time, mechanical wear can cause reduced preload levels and eventually backlash development, which leads to non-conforming behavior and a loss of positional accuracy in the ball screw. This dataset can be used to develop methods to track the loss of preload and the emergence of backlash.