Product category:
Gears, brakes, couplings and engines
News Release from: Harmonic Drive UK | Subject: Compact Precision Unit
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 01 August 2005
Gear system handles twice the bearing
load
A novel integrated gear and preloaded output bearing unit provides higher bearing load capacity with significantly improved concentricity and runout tolerances than competing devices.
An innovative new compact, integrated gear and preloaded output bearing unit, developed and manufactured in Europe by Harmonic Drive, has been designed to provide far higher levels of bearing load capacity, with significantly improved concentricity and runout tolerances than competing devices Size for size, the new Compact Precision Unit (CPU) gear system can handle bearing loads up to 100% greater than existing gear and output bearing assemblies, with output bearing tolerances being up to 80% better
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 3 Aug 2005 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Small claims for servo actuator
A device believed to be the world's smallest servo actuator is capable of delivering 1.8Nm of torque from an integrated AC motor, gearbox and encoder that measures just 50mm3 in size and weighs 0.4kg.
Stainless steel gears feature in latest Airbus
The latest Harmonic Drive technology is being used in a specially designed trolley lift system, now being fitted to the latest Airbus A340-600, the world's longest passenger aircraft.
Other features of the new CPU units include a specially developed gothic arch bearing, that in addition to enhanced bearing capacity, gives an output bearing accuracy that is typically better than one micron.
In addition, each unit incorporates Harmonic Drive's optimised design of flexspline, circular spline teeth and wave generator bearing, to eliminate completely the effects of backlash, provide high torsional stiffness and offer a range of output torque capacities from just 5Nm to almost 3500Nm.
The new CPU gear units are far more compact than traditional gear/bearing/flange assemblies and are modular in construction, making them quick and simple to install.
Further reading
Hollow-shaft servo actuators boast top torque
A new range of compact hollow-shaft servo actuators are designed to offer exceptionally high levels of transmission accuracy and acceleration torque.
Gear system helps robot lighten its load
An innovative hollow shaft gear system has helped Reis Robotics to make significant weight reductions to the operating arm of its latest six-axis CO2 laser robot.
They are available in three versions: ready for direct mounting to all industry standard servomotors; with a hollow shaft up to 70mm in diameter to accommodate cables, pipes or even laser beams; and with a range of stainless steel input shafts suitable for mounting belt pulleys, spur or bevel gears.
The new CPU gear systems are robust, fully protected against corrosion are maintenance-free, making them ideal for use in a wide range of precision applications, including machine tools, positioning equipment for medical scanners, azimuth elevation mountings for weapons systems or pan and tilt camera platforms.
In each case, the modular construction and integration of both gear and output bearing enables system design and build times, plus the number of component parts, to be significantly reduced.
For example, the new CPU units can be built directly into a rotating table, such as might be found in a machine tool system, without the need for additional flanges or connecting mechanisms; similarly, using the new CPU units it is no longer necessary to engineer out inaccuracies that are normally introduced when using larger numbers of lower tolerance components.
The new CPU units are available directly from Harmonic Drive in the UK, through the company's recently opened sales and technical support centre in Stafford.
• Harmonic Drive UK: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Engineeringtalk email newsletter
• Engineeringtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
