Comment by Animats

Right. It's like pushing a nut along a screw by turning the screw.

This article is about exotic screw/nut assemblies which have lower friction, longer life, and more strength than ordinary screws. The recirculating ball screw used for automobile steering is the classic of such mechanisms.[1] Both roller and ball screws substitute rolling for sliding, always a win against friction.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recirculating_ball