Speed Reducers banner

Planetary Gearbox

A reliable source for Speed Reducer information and leading Speed Reducer Companies & Manufacturers.

An instrument having aligned input and output shafts is a planetary gearbox. The most efficient and compact way to transfer the most torque is using a planetary gearbox. They are frequently used in the automobile industry as a crucial part of automatic transmission applications. A planetary gearbox type uses a center of rotation for its input and output. As a result, the output and input shafts are aligned, and the input gear’s center spins around the output section’s center. The compact alternative to typical pinion-and-gear reducers is always planetary gearing, which has an inherent cylindrical assembly and inline shafting. Read More…

Planetary Gearbox A planetary gearbox is a mechanism that lowers the speed or torque of a rotating input shaft by using a system of gears that revolves around a central gear.
Request For Quote

Leading Manufacturers

Bloomingdale, IL  |  630-980-1133

We offer premium speed reducers and motion control components. These deluxe parts are designed for a wide range of purposes and our engineers are willing to assist you with determining the best speed reducer.

Request A Quote

DieQua Corporation $$$

Cleveland, OH  |  800-423-3169

Cleveland Gear Co. has specialized in speed control technology including a variety of quality manufactured speed reducers since 1912. We have successfully developed speed reducers for material handling, mineral processing, and more. You will find that our products have uncompromising quality, making all others less than the best. We will fulfill your exact requirements and that's what continues...

Request A Quote

Cleveland Gear Company $$$

Auburn, NY  |  315-253-7396

Gleason-Avery manufactures quality custom sub-fractional AC, DC and Rotisserie gearmotors, serving the OEM marketplace. We offer standard and custom-designed rotisserie and sub-fractional gear motor solutions for our customers worldwide. With a 30 year tradition steeped in quality and reliability, Gleason-Avery's emphasis on partnerships and personalized service further defines our close...

Request A Quote

Gleason-Avery $$$

Pacific, MO  |  636-257-3002

Established in the 1950s, Klauber Machine & Gear Co. is a leading manufacturer of gear motors and gear motors systems. Our gear motors products line includes inline parallel shaft, offset parallel shaft, and right-angle gear motors. We also specialize in creating custom AC/DC gear motors for your needs.

Request A Quote

Klauber Machine & Gear Co. $$$

Stockton, MO  |  800-346-5745

1975 marks the beginning of our high quality manufacturing of gear drives for power transmission systems. Superior Gearbox Company utilizes the most up-to-date engineering software allowing us to manufacture the best in right angle, bevel worm gears and speed reducers for a variety of applications. For over 30 years we’ve been servicing international companies; call us today to be the next!

Request A Quote

Superior Gearbox Company $$$
placeholder image DieQua Corporation Cleveland Gear Company Gleason-Avery Klauber Machine & Gear Co. Superior Gearbox Company

Planetary Gears

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.

Shaft Planetary Gear System

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
Planetary Gearbox for Conveyor

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.

Planetary Gearbox Informational Video

 

Speed Reducers Power Pages

Gear Drive

Gear Drive

Gear drives, sometimes referred to as gear trains and gearboxes, are mechanisms consisting of an assembly of gears, shafts, and other machine elements for mounting the rotating parts...

Gear Reducer

Gear Reducer

A gear reducer is a mechanical system of gears in an arrangement such that input speed can be lowered to a slower output speed but have the same or more output torque. The operation of a gear reducer involves a set of rotating gears that are...

Speed Reducers

Speed Reducers

A speed reducer is a gear train between the motor and the machinery that is used to slow down the transmission of power. Speed reducers, also known as gear reducers, are mechanical devices that serve two roles...

Power Transmission Equipment

Featured Industries