As part of its new, extensive eLION platform for the electrification of mobile working machines, Bosch Rexroth has developed spur gearboxes which vehicle manufacturers can use to unlock the full potential of new electric motors. The 1-speed spur gearbox (eGFZ 9100) and the 2-speed shift gearbox (eGFZ 9200) are installed in the central section of […]
Gears + Gearing
Leading motion-control and actuation options for robotics
Advanced robotics for industrial and consumer applications demand sophisticated power-dense motion components for joints and linkages that must run smoothly, often at high torque and relatively low speed. The challenge is compounded when the robotic application must also make precise moves. At the core of most leading robotic-actuator options are electric motors. That’s because motor-driven designs […]
Basics of wave and cycloidal gearing for robotics and servo designs
Many of today’s precision applications necessitate gears capable of dramatic speed reductions, power densities, and transmission accuracies. Leading choices in these designs include trochoidal and cycloidal gearing as well as gearsets relying on wave-inducing subcomponents having an elliptical or Reuleaux or other polygonal shape. Trochoidal and cycloidal gearing includes elements that rotate and trace curves around […]
New plastic bevel gears from igus offer lubrication-free motion
igus has expanded its gear offering with bevel gears made of its iguform S270 and igutek P360 high-performance plastics. These abrasion-resistant, self-lubricating gears are a lightweight and maintenance-free alternative to traditional metallic gears. Gears are widely used as drive elements in a range of applications, from e-bikes to locking systems to actuators. However, when forces […]
Motion system design: How to manage inertia mismatch
One of the most important parameters when sizing a motion system is the inertia of the load being moved. Regardless of the type of motor being used — AC induction, stepper, brushless DC, or AC servo — the ratio of the load inertia to the motor inertia has an important influence on system performance. If the […]
What determines worm gear efficiency, and is it really that low?
Worm gears are often used for their ability to provide very high reduction ratios (and high torque multiplication) in a compact, single-stage design. But traditional thinking says that these benefits come at the expense of efficiency. Here, we’ll look at the factors that determine worm gear efficiency and how to get the benefits they provide […]
New robotic cycloidal gearbox from GAM
GAM’s newest GCL cycloidal gearboxes provide high precision and rigidity for horizontal and vertical robotic and motion control applications. The GCL is designed to withstand the frequent start-stop impact loads of industrial robots and other motion control applications with impact resistance five times nominal torque. The GCL series is available in a wide range of […]
Extensive line of spur gears from KHK USA
KHK USA Inc. has launched an extensive line of metric spur gears. A large selection of off-the-shelf KHK spur gears are available in many materials, configurations, modules and numbers of teeth, and KHK quick customized products can be ready within 5 business days. Spur gears are cylindrical disks that have involute shaped teeth cut into […]
What’s the current status of AGMA and ISO gear quality standards (and why are they so confusing)?
Gear quality standards developed and published by the American Gear Manufacturers Association (AGMA), have dominated gear manufacturing in the U.S. market since the 1960s. But in the 1990s, AGMA began working with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) to update and harmonize gear quality standards, with several versions of both AGMA and ISO standards published […]
NORD adds new gear units with thermally optimized housings
NORD’s new MAXXDRIVE XT series features right-angle gear units with thermally optimized housings, output torques from 132,800 to 663,800 lb-in, ratios from 6.14 to 22.91:1, and 30 to 2,825 hp across seven sizes. The MAXXDRIVE portfolio offers parallel and right-angle industrial gear units with high output torques from 132,800 to 2,301,200 lb-in, ratios from 5.54 […]