Apex Dynamics, manufacturer of low-backlash gearboxes, racks and pinions, has introduced a new way of mounting the pinion to its gearbox: the curvic plate pinion.
Apex Dynamics developed this solution in response to the demand of manufacturers of high precision applications such as robotics, plate cutting machines and drilling lines. It has resulted in a solution with much higher flexibility, deployability, clearance-free assembly and short delivery times.
The original solution
When designing a linear drive with rack and pinion, the pinion is often the limiting factor. Because the mounting holes of the gearbox have a standardized diameter, the choice of the number of teeth of the pinion is often limited: small, so that the teeth do not get in the way of the mounting holes, or large, so that the bolts fit into the pinion. However, in between there is an interesting range for manufacturers in terms of torque, power and accuracy. The original solution was: fixed factory mounting of the pinion.
The pinion and gearbox are supplied as one component with fixed factory assembly, the only disadvantage is that the complete unit must be replaced in the event of wear or specification changes. With the “curvic plate” pinion developed by Apex Dynamics, this is a thing of the past, and there are a number of other advantages associated with the solution.
Read more here or watch the video about this patented Curvic Plate solution from APEX Dynamics…