Planetary precision reducers are mainly used in areas where precise counting is required. Generally, they are small in size, light in weight, and highly accurate. They are mainly used in conjunction with encoders and are typically applied in electrical equipment. Gear reducers are large in size, but their transmission accuracy is not as high as that of precision planetary reducers. They are usually suitable for driving small equipment.
Common reducers include helical gear reducers (including parallel shaft helical gear reducers, worm gear reducers, bevel gear reducers, etc.), planetary gear reducers, cycloidal pinwheel reducers, worm gear reducers, planetary friction mechanical stepless speed changers, etc.
The more common types of reducers include worm gear reducers. Their main features are reverse self-locking function, large reduction ratio, and the input shaft and output shaft are not on the same axis or in the same plane. However, they are generally large in size, have low transmission system efficiency and not very high precision. Harmonic reducers, their harmonic drive utilizes the controllable elastic deformation of flexible components to transmit motion and power. They are not large in size and have high precision. However, their disadvantages include a relatively limited service life of the flexible gear, poor shock resistance, and slightly lower rigidity compared to metal parts. The input rotational speed should not be too high.
Planetary reducers have the main advantages of a relatively compact structure, small backlash, high precision, long service life, and the ability to achieve a larger rated output torque.