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Re: Gearbox for mechanism or appendage
This gearbox is known in the industrial robotics industry as an epicyclic gearbox and is very common in robots that require low backlash and high gear reduction.
A couple of business and technical points:
1. There are MANY patents on this design. Several of them have expired but a few key ones still exist so do a patent search before selling this.
2. This design looks to only have one stage going in a single direction. This will induce severe oscillations that cause torque ripple which are detrimental to high load arm applications. There are ways to solve this but it adds significant cost.
3. In order to get acceptable efficiency the oscillating gear must have a very smooth surface finish. Grinding that surface is a must or I would not use it. Plastic gearing for this will severely limit the load carrying capability.
That's all I can think of now.
Paul
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In full disclosure I am the President of VEX Robotics, a division of Innovation First International.
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