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Planetary Gearboxes

Planetary Gearboxes are also known as epicyclic gearboxes and can be described as one of the most interesting types of gearbox available within motion control. They are available in different shapes and sizes and are ideal for applications which require high endurance particulary robotics and 3D printing.

Planetary Gearboxes are highly accurate and are well known for their precision in applications. They can increase the lifespan of a system and optimise the performance. They can be solid or hollow format and have a unique RediMount system to directly couple to any servo or stepper motor.

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Working Principle of a Planetary Gearbox

In a Planetary Gearbox, the input and output gears both have the same centre of rotation. The centre of the input gear revolves around the centre of the output gear and the input and output shafts are in alignment. The alignment in a planetary gearbox can be compared to our that of our solar system, hence the name “Planetary Gearbox”.

At the centre of the planetary gearbox there is a “sun” gear (or central gear) - this is usually the input gear. Connected around the outside of the sun gear there are two or more “planet” gears (also known as outer gears). Then the ring gear surrounds the planet gears holding the formation together. The planet gears are connected by a carrier which is also connected to the output shaft.

Factors to Consider when Selecting a Planetary Gearbox

It is important to ensure that the planetary gearbox selected is best suited for the application in hand to ensure high performance. When selecting a planetary gearbox for your application, it is important to consider the following:

  • Specifications – what are the specifications of your application and which measurements do you require from your planetary gearbox? Specifications including torque, backlash, ratio etc need to be considered.
  • Environment – What is the environment surrounding your application? Will there be dust, dirt or moisture present? If so, your planetary gearbox will require a protection rating.
  • Space – how much physical space is there for the planetary gearbox? Do you require a compact device? Planetary gearboxes are available in various sizes, so space is limited then smaller gearbox can be used.

Planetary Gearbox Applications

Planetary gearboxes are used for a wide variety of applications. They offer high precision and high torque-to-volume ratio which makes them well suited to applications which involve increasing torque, reducing speed, precise positioning and controlling reproducible machinery.

Some application areas for Planetary Gearboxes include:

  • AGV’s
  • Slew drives
  • Winch drives
  • Slew drives
  • Wheel drives
  • Pumps
  • Track drives
  • Mixing
  • Medical scanners
  • Cutter heads
  • Renewable energy
  • Petrochemical
  • Operating tables