Gearing technology provides aerospace benefits
A
Servotechnic product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
Mar 17, 2006
Two types of aerospace applications benefit from the zero backlash, repeatability and high torque of gearing technology - space based and land based applications.
There are two basic types of aerospace applications benefiting from the zero backlash, repeatability and high torque of Harmonic Flex-Drive gearing technology - space based and land based applications.
More than 3000 space based applications with custom Harmonic Flex-Drives have been manufactured without a single failure including the lunar rover and 66 Iridium communications satellites.
Applications include communications, military surveillance, weather satellites, several deep space probes, telescopes (including the Hubble Space Telescope) and the International Space Station.
They are used to control accurately antennas and compass gimbals, to align scientific instruments, adjust apertures and solar panels, and open and close hatches and doorways.
The main ground based application for Harmonic Flex-Drives and rotary vector drives are large stationary or truck mounted antennas and arrays used for communications, weapons systems, weather, and civilian and military radar.
The Harmonic Flex-Drives are used to rotate and tilt accurately the antennas and arrays.
Harmonic Flex-Drive reducers are used in these applications because they offer aerospace and design engineers benefits they can not find in any other motion control system.
These include: long ground based shelf life in humid environments; can withstand the G forces of lift-off; operate in a wide temperature range from cryogenic to extreme heat; compatible with low out gassing lubricants which prevent contamination of instruments and electronics in a vacuum environment; sit idly for years and activate without fail when needed; positional accuracy and repeatability; provide high ratios and torque in a small lightweight package; can be manufactured with special materials; smooth operation even when reversing direction; and high duty cycle and operational life.
Harmonic Flex-Drive zero backlash gears are made in the USA and are available in the UK through Servotechnic.
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