Cycloidal gearboxes
Cycloidal gearboxes or reducers contain four basic components: a high-speed input shaft, a single 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 followers in the casing. Cylindrical cam followers become teeth on the internal gear, and the amount of cam followers exceeds the amount of cam lobes. The next track of compound cam lobes engages with cam followers on the output shaft and transforms the cam’s eccentric rotation into concentric rotation of the result shaft, thus increasing torque and reducing velocity.
Compound cycloidal gearboxes provide ratios ranging from as low as 10:1 to 300:1 without stacking phases, as in regular planetary gearboxes. The gearbox’s compound decrease and will be calculated using:
where nhsg = the amount of followers or rollers in the fixed housing and nops = the number for followers or rollers in the slower acceleration 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 processes, cycloidal variations share simple design principles but generate cycloidal movement in different ways.
Planetary gearboxes
Planetary gearboxes are made of three simple force-transmitting elements: a sun gear, three or even more satellite or planet gears, and an internal ring gear. In a typical gearbox, the sun gear attaches to the input shaft, which is connected to the servomotor. The sun gear transmits motor rotation to the satellites which, subsequently, rotate in the stationary ring equipment. The ring gear is section of the gearbox housing. Satellite gears rotate on rigid shafts connected to the earth carrier and cause the earth carrier to rotate and, thus, turn the result shaft. The gearbox gives the output shaft higher torque and lower rpm.
Planetary gearboxes generally have solitary or two-gear stages for reduction ratios ranging from 3:1 to 100:1. A third stage could be added for also higher ratios, but it is not common.
The ratio of a planetary gearbox is calculated using the following formula:
where nring 
= the number of teeth in the inner ring gear and nsun = the amount of the teeth in the pinion (input) gear.
Benefits of cycloidal gearboxes
• Zero or very-low backlash stays relatively constant during life of the application
• Rolling instead of sliding contact
• Low wear
• Shock-load capacity
• Torsional stiffness
• Flat, pancake design
• Ratios exceeding 200:1 in a concise size
• Quiet operation
Ever-Power Cycloidal Gear technology is the far superior choice in comparison with traditional planetary and cam indexing devices.
Let us know in a comment here, just what you think of cycloidal gearbox.