5 steps to quickly identify the pros and cons of reducers

01 Transmission efficiency: Reduced output power

Transmission efficiency is an important evaluation indicator for gear reducers. Testing transmission efficiency requires professional equipment, and it's difficult for customers to measure specific data themselves, but making a horizontal comparison is possible. Heat generation is the most intuitive way to compare.

As we have learned in physics, energy is conserved, so if a lot of heat is dissipated, it means more power from the motor is used to eliminate friction, resulting in reduced output power. With less output power, the load capacity naturally weakens, leading to a lack of force, reduced acceleration, and slower beats.

02 Lifespan: Quality determined by time

The lifespan of gear reducers mainly depends on the lifespan of bearings. Generally, bearings are the first to be damaged, especially in harmonic gear reducers. In the case of RV gear reducers, the planetary structure is also a vulnerable point.

Premature wear and tear generally occur within a few months to a year, depending on the operating conditions. Therefore, gear reducer manufacturers that increase production to meet the growing demand for robots need to pay attention.

03 Heat generation: Precision or heat

The precision of gear reducers depends on the meshing of gears. If the mesh clearance is too large, the precision of the gear reducer is lower. Using a slight interference fit will increase precision, but it can lead to excessive heat generation.

On RV gear reducers, the difference in heat generation using the harmonic drive structure is not as obvious, but for different brands of harmonic gear reducers, the heat generation varies greatly. Among harmonics, HD is the only manufacturer that can achieve both high precision and low heat generation.

04 Precision: A crucial indicator for gear reducers

This includes two types: angular transmission precision, which is indicated in gear reducer manuals and affects the absolute positioning precision of robots; and repetitive positioning precision, which is not mentioned in gear reducer manuals and affects the repetitive positioning precision of robots.

Gear reducer manufacturers generally have professional equipment for angular transmission precision, but customers can also design some simple methods to measure it. The same goes for repetitive positioning precision.

05 Oil leakage: How to distinguish real from false oil leakage?

This is a problem that must be faced with any gear reducer. The causes of oil leakage are quite complex and involve oil seal brands, oil seal assembly, shaft processing technology, and usage methods, among others. Moreover, there are real oil leaks and false oil leaks.

False oil leaks occur shortly after operation, with a small amount of leakage that stops after a short time. This is generally due to internal pressure release, which resolves the issue. Real oil leaks can occur at any time, possibly from the start, indicating a product quality or assembly quality issue, or after a long period of operation, which is usually a problem with the oil seal's lifespan, excluding improper use.