Worm gear the future?
A worm gear reducer; “known for the old technology, low costs and poor returns”. Does this technology still have a future?
In addition to the well-known, the application of worm gear technology in modern applications can have its advantages, among other things. weight, installation dimensions and noise level
Introduction
The worm gear mechanism is formed by, of course, a worm and a worm gear. The worm, in most cases the driven component, rotates and the worm gear is driven via the spiral teeth. The ratio between the spirals of the worm and the number of teeth of the worm gear ultimately determines the ratio of a worm drive. It is an age-old technique. Unlike a regular gearbox, the mechanism is basically a consumer item. This means that wear and tear may occur over time. This has consequences for both the efficiency and the performance of the drive.
Application of a worm drive.
A worm drive or worm gear reducer can be used to save costs, as in most cases it is a relatively cheap alternative to a comparable bevel gear or planetary transmission. You will indeed experience a poorer return, but a worm gearbox also offers its advantages. By using a worm gear reducer, a very high ratio can be achieved within a very compact design. As an example, the Rossi MR 2IV 50 with a ratio of i=437. A worm gearbox, provided it has good quality bearings and housing, is also a very low-noise product, making it extremely suitable for use in, for example, theater technology or quiet nature reserves.
Self-braking
A worm gear mechanism is from the design to a certain extent self-locking. This is a technical property that can be exploited, but also a property that may get in the way of a design. To put it bluntly, in most cases a worm gearbox cannot be driven or cannot be driven properly via the output/non-driven side. This means that a worm gear reducer may be used to slow down or to hold a certain load without using an additional brake. This is not suitable for all applications, so be well informed about the possibilities.
About worm gearboxes
If you are more interested in the possibilities of worm gear technology within drive technology. Then feel free to take a look at www.rossi.com and start looking for it Rossi AS Series and the Rossi A-Series . Or just drop by the WOTS 2022 to get acquainted and get advice.