The Types Of Reducer And What Is Strain Wave Gearbox

The reducer is an indispensable core part of the robot industry chain. Due to the large variety of robots and the huge industrial chain, different structural functions and application fields have different requirements for robots and gearbox.

The gear can be divided into three categories according to the purpose: general purpose, special and precision speed reduction device, among which the precision reducer is mainly used in the robot industry.

1、General purpose reducer: generally refers to gear reducer, worm gear reducer and planetary reducer, mainly small and medium-sized, widely used in various industries.

2、Special-purpose reducers: generally large and extra-large, most of which are industry-specific reducers, such as automobile reducers, photovoltaic reducers, and wind power reducers.

3、Precision reducer: mainly micro and small, generally refers to RV reducer, harmonic gearbox or precision planetary reducer, among which RV reducer and strain wave gear account for about 40% and are widely used in industry Robots, machine tools, semiconductors, aerospace and other high-precision scenarios, especially widely used in articulated robots.

Photo Credits: Via Nabtesco/Grainger

Among the precision speed reduction device, compared with the RV reducer, the harmonic drive motor has a simpler structure, smaller mass and volume, higher single-stage transmission ratio and higher precision, and has an irreplaceable position in the field of robotics.

RV reducer: large transmission ratio range, relatively stable precision, high fatigue strength, and higher rigidity and torque bearing capacity, it has advantages in heavy-load parts such as robot arms and machine bases, but at the same time because of its heavy weight, Due to the large size, it is impossible to develop into the light and flexible light load field.

Strain wave gear: It has the advantages of large single-stage transmission ratio, small size, small mass, high motion precision, and can work normally in confined spaces and medium radiation conditions. Compared with the general reducer, when the output torque is the same, the volume of the harmonic drive reducer can be reduced by 2/3, and the weight can be reduced by 1/2, which makes it suitable for the light and flexible requirements of the robot arm, wrist, hand, etc. Taller components have irreplaceable advantages.

At present, with the development of the industrial robot, aerospace equipment, and medical equipment, the demand for the high-performance precision reducer is becoming more and more challenging, in particular, the need for large transmission power, smooth transmission, low noise, simple compact structure of the precision reducer. Currently, there are not many countries in the world that can make this kind of precision reducer.^[1]

As one of the biggest harmonic reducer manufacturers in China, Laifual Drive actively strives to solve practical problems for customers and create value for customers by relying on advanced technology, continuous R&D investment, high precision manufacturing capabilities and strict quality control.

The harmonic drive developed by it is mainly composed of three basic components: a wave generator, a flex spline and a rigid spline. The wave generator makes the flex spline produce controllable elastic deformation, so that the teeth of the two wheels produce staggered tooth movement, thus realizing The motion transmission of active wave generators and flex splines, and strain wave drives are widely used in the field of mechanical transmission because of their large transmission ratios.

Next, Laifual Drive will further invest in the R&D and manufacturing of rotary actuators, and will continue to optimize the high-speed use, high transmission efficiency, compact structure, and lightweight of the iterative harmonic gearbox to further improve product performance. Provide satisfactory products for domestic and foreign customers, let Chinese manufacturing embrace the world, and create a better future together.

[1]How industrial robot leaps and bounds trough precision reducer?