Hardware

Lead Screw

A lead screw is a mechanical linear actuator component that converts rotary motion into linear motion through the sliding contact of a threaded screw and nut, commonly with trapezoidal or Acme thread profiles. Compared with ball screws, lead screws are cheaper, quieter, and often self-locking under load, but exhibit higher friction, lower efficiency, and more backlash and wear. They are widely used in 3D printers, linear stages, and low-cost robot axes.

Why it matters for physical AI

Actuator choices like lead screws versus ball screws set the cost, backdrivability, and precision envelope of affordable robot hardware, directly shaping what manipulation behaviors a platform can learn and execute.