About Speed Reducers and Speed Reducer Manufacturers
Including: Gear Boxes, Gear
Reducers, Gearmotors, Right
Angle Gear Boxes & Worm
Gear Reducers.
Speed reducers are produced by speed reducer manufacturers
to lower motor speed through an increase in torque and a decrease in
output speed. Speed reducers, also known as gear heads or gearboxes,
contain a set of gears, and input and output shafts. Speed reducers are
called a gear head when it is mounted directly onto a motor, not just
a shaft. During equipment operation, the motor transmits power to the
input shaft of the reducer. The speed reducers then convert this power
into lower output speed, which the reducer transmits to the connected
load through the output shaft.
Speed reducers are utilized by a wide variety of industries. Common industries
in which speed reducers are found include the materials handling; automotive;
aerospace; recreational; construction; food and beverage processing;
oil and gas; and textile industries. Speed reducers are used in a variety
of applications, including automation equipment; conveyors; compressors;
printing presses; pumps; compressors; generators; and robotics applications.
Formations of the gears in speed reducers are made available by speed
reducer manufacturers in many manifestations. Each one is designed for
specific load and torque capacities. An example is a cycloidal reducer,
which is capable of providing high reduction ratios with high accuracy,
with the use of rolling elements. Another formation is that of the planetary
reducer, which handles large shock loads well. The name stems from a
likeness to a solar system in which "planet" gears revolve
around a "sun" gear.
Gearheads and other reducers are advantageous in many pieces of equipment.
The benefits of using gear heads include speed optimization and performance
improvement. In addition, a wide array of gear configurations remains
available for use in different applications. Remanufactured speed reducers
are also a commonly sold from speed reducer manufacturers. These often
come at greatly reduced costs but often may lack a warranty. When selecting
speed reducers, consider gear ratio; efficiency requirements; mechanical
rating; and thermal rating.
Types of Speed Reducers
- consist of rolling elements and
a multi lobed cam to pass on torque. They are noted for their high
stiffness and low backlash properties.
- lower motor speed by increasing torque.
- are speed reducers that lower RPM and increase torque.
- have gear reducers integrated into the motor.
- are spiral gear reducers used in applications
involving high shock loads. Helical reducers may require a larger
initial investment, but maintain high efficiency.
- are speed reducers containing parallel input
and output shafts. Parallel gear reducers offer great flexibility,
but
tend to be more costly than inline gearboxes.
- consist of an input shaft-driven central
rotary gear around which a set of gears rotates. Planetary gear
reducers are
efficient in applications involving high shock loads.
- contain input shafts that are positioned perpendicular
to the output shafts. Right angle speed reducers have up to
98% efficiency levels, and are common in printing presses and glass
cutting equipment.
- which have teeth that are straight and
run parallel to the axis of revolution. These are used primarily
for use in parallel shafts.
- are
right angle speed reducers used in applications involving low horsepower.
Worm gear reducers maintain high gear ratios,
high shock tolerance, and compact design.
Speed Reducers Terms
- A device that creates automatic motion by
converting various forms of energy to rotary or linear mechanical energy.
- Also referred to as "endplay." The
movement of the end of a motor or gear shaft. Usually measured in thousandths
of an inch.
- A condition in which a speed reducer's
output shaft moves, but the input shaft remains motionless.
- A
rotating disk shaped to convert circular into linear motion.
- The measurement, stated as a percentage, of a speed reducer's
ability to perform adequate speed reduction. Efficiency represents the
comparison of power input and power output.
- The part of a
motor that houses the bearing supporting the rotor and acts as a protective
guard to the internal parts of the motor;
sometimes called the endbell, endplate or end bracket.
- With
regard to speed reducers, the ratio that represents the comparison between
the input speed of the gearmotor and the output
speed of the gear head.
- Is a unit of work equal to 33,000
foot pounds per minute, 550 foot pounds per second, or 746 Watts.
- The difference in the output state of a mechanical system with respect
to input history; a component of bi-directional repeatability.
- The amount of input power generated by a motor that a speed reducer
can accept.
- Motion lost because of mechanical hysteresis,
backlash, or torsion related stiffness in a rotational control system.
- The amount of power that a speed reducer can safely manage before
the occurrence of overload.
- The placement of a speed
reducer input shaft and output shaft.
- The power that
a speed reducer releases from the output shaft, which depends on the
speed reducer's efficiency.
- The part of the speed
reducer to which the driven equipment is connected. The output shaft
is responsible for the power transmission
to the driven equipment.
- A rating measuring a speed reducer's
continuous transmission of power.