Speed Reducers

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.

Speed Reducers and Speed Reducer Manufacturers Image Provided by DieQua Corporation

Types of Speed Reducers

• Cycloid 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.
  
• Gear boxes lower motor speed by increasing torque.
  
• Gear reducers are speed reducers that lower RPM and increase torque.
  
• Gearmotors have gear reducers integrated into the motor.
  
• Helical gear reducers are spiral gear reducers used in applications involving high shock loads. Helical reducers may require a larger initial investment, but maintain high efficiency.
  
• Parallel gear boxes are speed reducers containing parallel input and output shafts. Parallel gear reducers offer great flexibility, but tend to be more costly than inline gearboxes.
  
• Planetary gear reducers 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.
  
• Right angle gear boxes 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.
  
• Spur reducers contain gears which have teeth that are straight and run parallel to the axis of revolution. These are used primarily for use in parallel shafts.
  
• Worm gear speed reducers 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

Actuator - A device that creates automatic motion by converting various forms of energy to rotary or linear mechanical energy.

Axial Movement – Also referred to as "endplay." The movement of the end of a motor or gear shaft. Usually measured in thousandths of an inch.

Backlash - A condition in which a speed reducer’s output shaft moves, but the input shaft remains motionless.

Cam – A rotating disk shaped to convert circular into linear motion.

Efficiency - 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.

Endshield - 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.

Gear Ratio - 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.

Horsepower - Is a unit of work equal to 33,000 foot pounds per minute, 550 foot pounds per second, or 746 Watts.

Hysterisis - The difference in the output state of a mechanical system with respect to input history; a component of bi-directional repeatability.

Input Horsepower - The amount of input power generated by a motor that a speed reducer can accept.

Lost Motion - Motion lost because of mechanical hysteresis, backlash, or torsion related stiffness in a rotational control system.

Mechanical Rating - The amount of power that a speed reducer can safely manage before the occurrence of overload.

Mounting Position - The placement of a speed reducer input shaft and output shaft.

Output Horsepower - The power that a speed reducer releases from the output shaft, which depends on the speed reducer’s efficiency.

Output Shaft - 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.

Thermal Rating - A rating measuring a speed reducer’s continuous transmission of power.