New robot gears with large hollow shafts and low weight

Harmonic Drive UK has a new series of robotic gears perfect for highly dynamic applications, such as robotic axes. The new SHG Series Units are a response to the increasing focus on robotics in industry. The increased use of robotics in heavy lifting applications necessitates gears that can resist heavy loads and provide zero backlash. The series provides high resistance to shock loads, due to its 30% increase in collision torque, in comparison to previous models. This, together with the series’ lifetime precision and zero backlash, make it ideal for industrial robot uses. The SHG Series offers 30 per cent higher torque values when compared with other strain wave gears with comparable dimensions. This ensures increased dynamics and decreases cycle time for positioning tasks. When this is joined with the components’ increased collision torque, it enables industrial robots to give precise movement, even when lifting and moving heavy loads. The units are available in ten sizes, with gear ratios of 50, 80, 100, 120 and 160, providing repeatable peak torques from 23 to 3419Nm. “Robots are a staple of industry, they permeate every process and are indispensable in achieving efficiency and high levels of production. The SHG Series was made with industrial robots in mind, and the three versions available offer a high degree of flexibility to design engineers,” explained Graham Mackrell, managing director of Harmonic Drive UK. “While their compact design and high torque density means there is no compromise in size versus use. The SHG Unit Series comes in SHG-2UH, 2SH and 2SO versions. “The 2UH has a mounted and fully sealed hollow shaft, through which to feed supply line, shafts or cables. in contrast, the 2SH and 2SO are simpler units, composed of the components and the output bearing, reducing maintenance. The hollow shaft is used directly as the rotor for the drive motor reducing the amount of complex parts. As a result, SHG Unit Series are ready for both simple and complex uses.”