Harmonic Drive® Gears
Gears for a wide range of applications.
Whether enclosed in a housing, employed as an actuator with motor and encoder, or as components in customer-specified configurations with specific materials or design elements, the flexibility of strain wave gears makes them suitable for a wide range of applications. However, there is one aspect, in particular, that has remained constant for decades, and this is the principle by which the Harmonic Drive® Strain Wave Gear functions. In addition to the proven strain wave gear technology, some Series are also available in Triangle Technology. Setting new standards in torsional stiffness, transmission accuracy and dynamics.
Harmonic Drive ® Strain Wave Gear Technology
The Harmonic Drive® Strain Wave Gear is made up of three basic components. These are first the Wave Generator, an elliptical steel disc that forms the heart of the gear unit, which has a centric hub and a special thin, elliptically deformable ball bearing. The Wave Generator is also connected to the motor shaft. Secondly, the Wave Generator is inserted into the Flexspline – a flexible cylinder with teeth cut around its outer circumference. The Circular Spline surrounds both the Wave Generator and the Flexspline as a rigid solid steel ring with internally cut teeth. What is significant is the number of teeth – the outer toothing of the Flexspline has fewer teeth than the inner toothing of the circular spline. The difference in number is frequently two.
The central features and advantages of the strain wave gear compared to other, more conventional types of gear unit, are primarily due to the combination of its simple construction and the unique principle of elastic deformation found in steel gear wheels. Harmonic Drive® Gears display absolute backlash free performance throughout their service life and maintain a high level of torsional rigidity over the whole torque range. With smaller dimensions and a lower weight compared with conventional gear types, they are suitable for use in lighter and more compact applications and systems. Owing to their high reduction ratios and the fact that they consist of three basic components and have a coaxial orientation, strain wave gears can be easily integrated into existing applications.
Gear Component Sets
Gears with output bearing
Strain Wave Gear explained
Whether on the seabed, in production halls or in the vastness of the universe: Harmonic Drive® gearboxes and actuators withstand the most diverse environmental conditions - including yours. The basis of their success is special properties which are combined by our Strain Wave Gear Principle and thus formed into an efficient unit.
Find out more about the Strain Wave Gear Principle in the video.
Features of the Harmonic Drive® Strain Wave Gear
Harmonic Drive® Triangle Technology
Triangle Technology is based on a revolutionary advancement of the proven Harmonic Drive® Strain Wave Gear Principle. The rounded triangular shape of the Wave Generator creates three tooth engagement areas between the Flexspline with external teeth and the Circular Spline with internal teeth.
Rotation of the Wave Generator causes permanent circumferential tooth engagement of the Flexspline and Circular Spline. Since the Flexspline has three teeth fewer than the Circular Spline, rotation of the Wave Generator causes relative movement of the Flexspline to the Circular Spline.
Compared to Harmonic Drive® Gears with an elliptical Wave Generator, the three tooth engagement areas of the Triangle Technology result in higher torsional stiffness under load.
The Triangle Technology sets new standards in torsional stiffness, transmission accuracy and dynamics. This enables a new level of precision and acceleration.
Features of Harmonic Drive® Triangle Technology
Higher torsional stiffness
The three tooth engagement areas of the Triangle Technology result in significantly increased torsional stiffness of at least 40%. This considerably reduces the load-related twisting of the gear. For milling machines, for example, higher feed rates can be achieved with the same surface quality.
