Useful Tips for Optimizing Gear Motors

When working with gear motors, there are a couple of useful tips to consider.

• Determine the required amount of torque at the gearbox output shaft. The speed of the gear motor and how much work it can do (based on the torque that it produces) are the two most important factors to consider. Gearboxes magnify the motor’s torque and eventually reduce its speed; so when you are sizing a gear motor for a particular case, assess the speed and available torque at the output shaft of the gearbox.
• The efficiency of gear motors can be increased by replacing the permanent split capacitor (PSC) with PMDC (permanent magnet dc) motor. Even though the efficiency potential for a PSC is greater than for PMDC, its actual efficiency during application on operating load point can be much lower.
• Three-phase driven gear motors are more efficient and reliable than their single-phase equivalent.
• Finally, avoid oversizing your gear motor and take care and consideration when determining the service factor when selecting the most suitable unit.