What is stiction and how can I overcome it?
he term “stiction” comes from “static friction.” Static friction occurs when two objects in contact are at rest or moving very slowly relative to each other. Dynamic friction occurs when the two objects are in motion. Static friction is always larger than dynamic friction, so when an object starts moving, the amount of friction present can change very rapidly. An example of this happens when you brake your car. Just before the car stops, you have to let up on the brake pedal; otherwise the car jolts to a stop (if you’ve been driving for years, you may not even be aware you are doing it). Stiction occurs between the teeth in a gear system. Of particular interest here is the effect on worm drives, which are typically used in astronomical telescopes. When the drive is stationary, the gears “stick together.” When the worm starts rotating, it pulls on the teeth of the worm wheel. In this situation, the wheel can bend, or the mounting or bearings can flex, at right angles to the normal rotat
