Choosing the correct right angle gear motors

Right angle gear motors are called for use in applications with space constraints. The motor must, therefore, be small, efficient and, above all, reliable. Because if there’s a space constraint, there is a high likelihood of heat build-up, and no business likes downtime.

Because of their relatively specialized use case, choosing the correct right angle gear motors is essential to all of the factors above.

An incorrectly configured gear motor can suffer stresses it wasn’t designed for and suffer a breakdown. Moreover, the kind of lubrication that should be applied can also vary from application to application, depending on factors such as load, heat and environment.

Take a look at some factors that should influence how your right angle gear motors have to be configured:

1. Type of gear – Offset, spur, helical or other? There are a variety of gear types that can be used in right angle gear motors. And a combination of these and be used to better tune the torque characteristics or help the motor run quieter. For a detailed breakdown of gear types in right angle gear motors, read our article on Break Down of a Right Angle Gear Motor. The nature of work, load applied and the power to be transmitted will all affect this.
    
2. Expected load – The loads expected to be transmitted through the right angle gear motor are a major factor in deciding its configuration. For instance, a helical gear set is a good option for handling high loads and speeds. However, configure a gear motor as such and then using at a fraction of its capacity invites inefficiency.
    
3. Gear speed – High speed operations place tremendous demands on a gear motor. Temperatures will rise over time and methods to cool right angle gear motors must be designed. Moreover, some gear types are more suited to high speed use than others. And gear speed will also affect choice of lubrication to be used within the gear assembly.
    
4. Ambient temperature – What environment is the right angle gear motor expected to function in? Will it experience cold temperatures or be in very close proximity to equipment emitting large amounts of heat? These considerations can help legislate for sustained adverse temperature in the initial design and installation phase of the right angle gear motor. What operating temperatures it will be run at is a factor in gear choice too, since different gear types can show different efficiencies at an ambient temperature.