A “nut with axial play” refers to a threaded nut that, by design, has a defined axial clearance between the nut and the spindle. This allows the nut to move slightly in the axial direction during a load change before force transmission is fully restored—via the thread flanks in trapezoidal screw drives, or via the balls and raceways in ball screw drives.
Axial play is particularly noticeable when the direction of motion or load changes and is often referred to as “backlash.” The design and magnitude of axial play depend on the specific design and the technical characteristics of the drive system used.