Stationary Ball Screw

[irving2008]

Just wondering if anyone has thought about spinning the Ball screw nut, keeping the Screw itself immobile? You wouldn't get the Screw whipping etc. There has to be a downside but I cannot see it ...

Yes its been done before and it works well.. and the downsides are:
1/ the motor driving the ballnut is on the moving assembly so adds to the weight needed to be moved
2/ the ballnut has to be driven via a timing belt or similar arrangement which just makes things more complex...

[Gary]

While it will work, it actually adds a lot of cost to it.
As mentioned you have a larger mass to move due to mtor motor moving with the nut, you also have to design the gear mechanism with a timing belt and pulleys and mounting for the motor.
When you could just buy a thicker crew with a larger lead, or use rack.