FEATURE


GEARS & GEARBOXES


MOTOR GEARBOX SELECTION: MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICE


Ian Williamson, chief design engineer at precision drive system supplier EMS, shares expert insight into the important features to look out for when selecting a motor gearbox


T


he key to finding an ideally suited motor gearbox is taking a close look at the


application it will be put into, right from the beginning of the selection process. This will uncover the gearbox’s specific demands and requirements, ensuring the chosen gearbox, and therefore final product, is successful. However, there are some essential


specifications that must also be studied, including torque, speed, current and operating voltage. These features must be balanced with the customer’s performance aims, preferred price and target quantity to ensure the product works well and is commercially viable. Although customers can choose the best


fitted standard gearbox for their specific application based on all these factors, a bespoke solution allows complete tailoring to requirements. Bespoke motor gearboxes can be designed to suit additional factors, such as product space envelope, output drive configuration and product mounting points. Self locking of the motor gearbox and integration of mechanical slipping clutches can also be considered in a bespoke design.


A BESPOKE SOLUTION When working with a standard component, there is likely to be a compromise on features that means the final product performs well, but not to its maximum potential. A bespoke solution considers all component requirements, and the final product as a whole, right from the beginning of the project. By tailoring each aspect of the component


to the application, more beneficial features can be integrated to tick all of the customer’s


 An example of a challenging area to work


with is in interior automotive applications, where the space envelope is intertwined with other equipment, making standard components typically unsuitable. This is relevant in car seat AV entertainment systems where screens and displays are deployed via motorised mechanisms. The systems can open and close at the


boxes in a smaller space. Standard motor gearboxes can require a degree of adaptation to work well in an application, and therefore bespoke gearboxes are often more compact. At EMS we work closely with our customers


from the beginning of the design process to deliver an optimised solution that results in a high performance and uncompromising final product. Our bespoke services simplify the entire


process, reducing the need to procure multiple parts from different sources and providing easier customer assembly and system integration. Detailed technical support from our skilled engineers gives customers a complete solution, from design guidance, to production and beyond.


MOTOR SYSTEMS WITH A HIGH POWER DENSITY Many of our customers are looking to fit a highly functional unit into a small or complexly shaped space envelope, and this can be achieved with an efficient, high power motor matched with a custom gearbox.


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touch of a button to stow and conceal the media unit from view for aesthetic, safety or security reasons. In the deployment system, the motor gearbox must fit alongside many other components such as the seat chassis, upholstery, media interface and mechanism. Another beneficial application of high power density motor systems is in the prosthetics industry. The resulting prosthesis must be slim and lightweight to make it comfortable for the user to wear, while also delivering enough power to perform everyday functions, such as opening doors and holding objects.


Small yet powerful motor systems are also


advantageous elsewhere in the healthcare industry, with one example being stairlifts. In this application, powerful systems are needed to provide sufficient drive to move patients up stairs. However, the system must also be compact so that it can be integrated into the stairlift without negatively impacting its aesthetics or wider performance.


GEARBOX RELIABILITY A good quality gearbox ensures the final product performs well in the field, especially important in critical sectors such as the medical and healthcare industries, where a performance failure could put the user at risk.


32


JUNE 2021 | D


DESIGN SOLUTIONS


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