Planetary Gearbox

How Planetary Gearboxes Work

The planetary gearbox is one type of gearbox that satisfies all the modeling requirements for servo applications while offering comparatively extended performance lifetimes and minimal maintenance requirements. This distinction is because planetary gearboxes have a smaller overall footprint than other device types while offering excellent torque transmission, adequate rigidity, and low noise.

The name, "planetary gearbox," refers to how the gear arrangement resembles how planets revolve around the sun. A planetary gearbox has a "sun" gear in the center, also known as a main gear. This is always the input portion. Two or more parts surround the outside, also known as outside gear. A ring component that completes the creation is located around the planet's component sections. Finally, a carrier connected to the output shaft joins the planet gears.

A carrier, a central sun gear, an outer ring (sometimes known as an internal gear because its teeth face inward), and the planetary gears make up the comparatively straightforward planetary gearbox design. The solar gear spins as a result of input power. The sun gear and the planetary gears have a standard for their mesh, and as the sun gear spins based on this, the planetary gears also revolve following their axes.

The planetary gears also spin around the sun gear since they are proportional to the ring section, which is fixed. The carrier maintains the planetary gears' fundamental structure and establishes their gaps. It incorporates the output shaft and rotates with the planetary components.

Drawbacks of Planetary Gearboxes

There are some limitations and disadvantages to a planetary gearbox. They are typically more costly than other gearbox variants because of their complexity in design and construction. A planetary gear can become imbalanced and experience increased wear and failure if positioned closer to the sun than the others. Additionally, because of their small size and significant heat dissipation, planetary gears may need cooling in applications that operate continuously or at very high speeds.

The motor and the driven portions should align with each other when using a "regular (i.e., inline)” planetary gearbox. However, manufacturers provide right-angle variants that include different gear sets (always bevel gears with helical teeth to provide an offset between the input and output).

Consider that helical gears or spur gears can create a planetary gearbox. However, since their helix angle is zero, spur gears provide no axial forces. As a result, the main purpose of the bearings in a spur-type planetary gearbox is to supply the gear shafts.

In contrast, spiral types have a helix angle between 10 and 30 degrees, generating many axial forces. The bearings used in helical planetary gearboxes ought to tolerate these axial forces; larger helix angles present better torque potential, smoother operation, and lower noise but result in greater axial forces.

Applications of Planetary Gearboxes

When weight and space are limited, but a large speed decrease and torque are required, planetary gears are frequently used. This standard applies to various industries, including tractors and construction machinery with heavy-duty wheels requiring high torque levels. Other uses for planetary gear systems include electric screwdrivers, automatic gearboxes, and turbine engines.

Due to the load distributed throughout several planetary gears, planetary gear systems can produce significant torque. As a result, the weight is dispersed more evenly, increasing the gears' durability. Furthermore, compared to a parallel-axis gear system, this layout produces more contact surfaces and a larger contact area between the gears. Applications for planetary gearboxes include the following:

• Drive wheels
• Drive tracks
• Conveyors
• Drive slews
• Driving hoists
• Mixing
• Winch motors
• Pumps
• Injectors for coil tubing
• Drives for aggies and drills
• Drives for cutter heads
• Boiler and sugar mill equipment

Choosing the Right Planetary Gearbox Manufacturer

To make sure you have the most productive outcome when purchasing planetary gearboxes from a planetary gearbox manufacturer, it is important to compare at least 4 companies using our list of planetary gearbox manufacturers. Each planetary gearbox manufacturer has a business profile page that highlights their areas of experience and capabilities and a contact form to directly communicate with the manufacturer for more information or request a quote. Review each planetary gearbox business website using our proprietary website previewer to get an idea of what each company specializes in, and then use our simple RFQ form to contact multiple planetary gearbox businesses with the same message.