Gear motors

Gear motors - the ingenious combination of motors and gearboxes

The gear motors combine a motor and at least one gearbox to form a fixed assembly. This assembly usually has a common article number and can be viewed as one product. In the case of gear motors with an electric motor, the assembly often includes a rotary or incremental encoder that is mounted at the end of the electric motor. We are primarily looking at the gear motors, which are coupled with an electric motor. This is also the main part of the gear motors.

In exceptional cases, there are also internal combustion engines that are designed as gear motors. These can be found in aircraft construction and in compact drives for the motorcycle industry.

The gear motor and the physics

The physics of the electric motor has been dealt with in detail in the electric motors category. The gearbox connected to the electric motor subsequently changes the speed of the armature shaft towards the output of the gearbox. As a rule, the speed change is slow. This increases the output torque of the geared motor at each gear stage. Each gear stage has an efficiency of approx. 98%.

Gear motors with spur or bevel gears can also be operated as a generator, i.e. mechanical movement can be converted into electrical energy. This does not work with geared motors with a worm gear. Worm gear sets are self-locking.

The gear motors, its types, sizes and designs

Gear motors are available in different types and designs. A distinguishing feature is the type of motor, alternating current electric motor (AC motor) or direct current motor (DC motor).

In addition to the motors, geared motors also differ from one another in their design. We know the following types of gear motors:

Of course, the gearbox itself also exists without an electric motor being installed. Then one speaks only of a gearbox instead of a gear motor. These gears can then be connected to a motor in the construction by means of a coupling to form a "gear motor unit".

As with electric motors, gear motors are also available in a wide variety of designs. Two of the best-known variants are the flange gear motor and the foot gear motor. There is also a combination in which the gear unit has a foot and an additional flange on the output shaft. The electric motor is usually attached to the gearbox as a flange motor.

Another distinguishing feature is the hollow shaft or the output shaft (pin) at the output of the gearbox. On request, a gearbox can also be designed with an output shaft on both sides.

Many manufacturers also offer electric motors directly as individual motors. This is why you will find electric motors as a separate category on tramao in addition to gear motors.

There are hardly any limits to the size and thus also the performance of geared motors. Small gear motors with 0.1 watt (micro gear motors) exist as well as large gear motors with 10 MW and more.

In the case of combinations of gearboxes with stepper motors or servomotors, we also speak of gear motors, which require the highest level of precision. Integrated incremental encoders complete the "geared motor" drive unit.

Special gear motors are also available as belt gear motors or elliptical spline gear motors.

Where can gear motors be used?

The question has to be, as with the pure electric motors, where can they not be used. Small gear motors are used in hand tools, garden tools and kitchen tools in the form of special gears. Further uses are known from the areas of machine tools, special machine construction, process lines, construction machinery and conveyor technology.

How can you get electric motors?

At tramao you will find many different designs of gear motors. There are new parts as well as used machines or completely overhauled gear motors.

There are offers from many well-known manufacturers such as Siemens, SEW Eurodrive, Flender, Stöber, Atlanta, Bauer, Motovario and Electro Adda.

Here, too, tramao is the right marketplace for gear motors.