Cycloidal gearboxes
Cycloidal gearboxes or reducers contain four fundamental components: a high-speed input shaft, an individual or compound cycloidal cam, cam followers or rollers, and a slow-speed output shaft. The input shaft attaches to an eccentric drive member that induces eccentric rotation of the cycloidal cam. In substance reducers, the first tabs on the cycloidal cam lobes engages cam fans in the casing. Cylindrical cam followers act as teeth on the inner gear, and the amount of cam followers exceeds the number of cam lobes. The next track of compound cam lobes engages with cam followers on the result shaft and transforms the cam’s eccentric rotation into concentric rotation of the output shaft, thus increasing torque and reducing acceleration.
Compound cycloidal gearboxes provide ratios ranging from only 10:1 to 300:1 without stacking phases, as in standard planetary gearboxes. The gearbox’s compound reduction and will be calculated using:
where nhsg = the amount of followers or rollers in the fixed housing and nops = the quantity for followers or rollers in the gradual rate output shaft (flange).
There are many commercial variations of cycloidal reducers. And unlike planetary gearboxes where variations are based on gear geometry, heat therapy, and finishing procedures, cycloidal variations share fundamental design principles but generate cycloidal movement in different ways.
Planetary gearboxes
Planetary gearboxes are made up of three basic force-transmitting elements: a sun gear, three or even more satellite or world gears, and an internal ring gear. In a typical gearbox, the sun gear attaches to the insight shaft, which is Cycloidal gearbox connected to the servomotor. Sunlight gear transmits motor rotation to the satellites which, in turn, rotate in the stationary ring gear. The ring gear is part of the gearbox casing. Satellite gears rotate on rigid shafts connected to the planet carrier and cause the earth carrier to rotate and, thus, turn the result shaft. The gearbox provides output shaft higher torque and lower rpm.