What is a Geared Motor?

An electric motor and gearhead combination is called a geared motor. A gearhead usually aims to boost the motor's output torque and restrict the speed of the motor's shaft. Including an appropriately sized and constructed gearhead makes it feasible to achieve the desired output speed and torque since gears transform shaft speed and torque at particular ratios with minimal efficiency losses.

The electricity used by the geared motor may be either DC (direct current) or AC (alternating current), depending on the kind of electric motor attached to the gearhead.

In this blog, we will discuss the types, benefits, and working geared motors to help you understand their usage.

Types of Geared Motor?

In the field of mechanics, geared motors have always been regarded as vital components, and their success comes from their practicality. Let's take a look at each type of geared motor.

Spur Geared Motor

These are composed of various materials such as steel, brass, and so on.

Their gears are generally mounted on a parallel shaft with teeth projecting radically.

These motors usually have one contact point, and smaller gears are meshed into larger ones. This meshing structure reduces revolutions per minute (RPM), converting into torque. 

These motors typically produce low mechanical noise while offering higher power than motor only and efficiency.

Spur-geared motors have vast applications in different industries ranging from automotive systems to conveyor systems. Some of its key applications include powering conveyor belts, controlling the movements of robotic arms, and providing mechanical motions for vehicle functions such as seat adjustments, power windows, etc.

Planetary Geared Motor

As the name indicates, these geared motors work the same as planets rotating around the sun. There's a sun gear at the center and planet gears rotating around it (typically on a carrier). There's another gear with inward-facing teeth known as ring gears that hold planet gears around the center to orbit about the sun gear.

These are designed to provide higher torque and power in a comparable volume compared to a traditional spur gearhead. This kind of gearhead has the benefit of having less backlash.

The number of teeth and size of planetary gears are modified to alter the speed and torque of output. This is designed to distribute the force to each gear, making it durable and ensuring a longer life span.

These also have higher load capacity.

Advantages of Geared Motor

The next big thing in mechanical advancement will be geared motors. They consist of a Gearhead that is connected to the motor directly. This means that because the motor pinion now meshes with the input gear of(in) the gearhead, so there's no need for a motor adapter or connection.

Eliminating these extra parts makes the solution lighter, more efficient, and has fewer wear parts, which means you and your team will need less service.

There are several more benefits of a geared motor. Let's review their main advantages:

Cost Effective

The system's total cost may be lowered by multiplying torque and reducing speed using a geared motor. Profits are usually immediate because many gear motors are low-maintenance and affordable to install; there won't be any significant unplanned downtime for gear repairs.

Torque Multiplication

The gearing arrangement in these motors allows for torque and speed trade-offs, which can help move heavy loads. This is incredibly beneficial for applications requiring higher starting torques. The size and specifications of motors vary based on their use. Large sized motors are used in elevators and conveyors. On the other hand, medical and optical equipment require smaller and more precise motors due to the nature of their use.

Speed Reduction

Because gear motors lower output speed as they increase output torque, they are sometimes referred to as gear reducers. This speed reduction enhances system performance since many motors are inefficient at low rpm.

Space Efficiency

Geared motors are typically considered a space-efficient option. Even though it is smaller in size, these motors still deliver the required torque. This is especially helpful in scenarios where space constraint is a concern.

How Geared Motor Works?

The gearhead and its gear pairs are an essential component of the geared motor. The motor's force is transferred via gears from the input shaft to the output shaft. As a result, the gearhead serves as a torque and speed converter.

Generally, the gear unit transmits far larger torques than the electric motor could produce on its own while also slowing down the motor's rotational speed. Based on this concept, the design of the gear unit decides whether a gear motor is appropriate for light, medium, or heavy loads and for short or extended working durations.

The maximum torque on the output side of a geared motor is another crucial factor. The torque measures the geared motor's force and the load it can move with that force.

This causes the gearhead to have a low torque at a low ratio and a high torque at a high ratio at the same incoming speed.

Uses of Geared Motor

Geared motors are used for applications requiring a high output torque and a low output shaft rotation speed, particularly those with limited space and power. This covers a broad spectrum of typical equipment uses in several sectors.

Robotics

Geared motors are widely used in the robotics industry, especially for actuating different joints, e.g., arms and limbs. In revolutionary robot hands, these motors allow multiple degrees of freedom movement with the actuator mechanism. Motors also provide high torque, especially when these robot hands are required to lift or support heavy loads. Their high durability counters the wear and tear caused by repeated movements, ensuring a longer life span for the machines.

These motors are also key components of moving or mobile robots, allowing them to move in a specific direction with a controlled speed.

Semiconductor Manufacturing Equipment

Geared motors are also widely employed in semiconductor manufacturing facilities. Their high-precision gear allows for controlled movement and accurate positioning in handling and transporting different components. High torque, on the other hand, facilitates easy weight lifting during these processes.

These are also important in mounter head devices that are needed at the assembly stage of semiconductors for arranging different parts. Their small size proves them to be a powerful alternative to conventional larger motors.

Medical Equipment

Due to their reliability, hundreds of medical equipment like endoscopes and injection pumps use geared motors. Geared motors are also known for their quietness (silent operation), which is extremely important for medical equipment being used in intense environments.

The Bottom Line

Different kinds of gearheades are needed for different purposes. To ensure that equipment operates smoothly and for an extended period, Orbray geared motors are constructed from various materials selected for their intended purpose. We provide smaller diameter motors starting from φ4.

From medical equipment to security cameras, drones to dust masks, Orbray provides components based on your particular requirements for every use.

Contact our professionals at Orbray if you need clarification on the appropriate geared motor for your specific need!

Gearhead - Japan | Orbray Co., Ltd.

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