Gearboxes for DC Motors

Picture
To get a DC Electric Motor to run efficiently, it's a good idea to attach it to a gearbox. Gearboxes uses momentum to keep the drive system running, rather than using power from the motor itself. As a result, this can dramatically increase the lifespan of the engine, as the stress on the engine is much lower.

The gearbox is therefore vital to make sure drive systems are running effectively, with maximum drive derived from minimum power, and custom gearbox designers are particularly handy if you want your system to be a success. They can ask tricky questions such as the following.

1. What is your system going to achieve? What is the purpose of this system? A DC electric drive system within a central processing unit on a computer's motherboard is going to need a different set-up to that of a drive system within an electric wheelchair, for example.

Applications are rarely unique. Check out the DC Motor Applications guide at DC Motor Guide to find the right gearbox for your application.

2. Where is your system going to be located? Another fairly important one, as space constraints can mean that you can't use your ideally chosen gearbox & motor won't fit into the place you want it to go. Check on the size.

Furthermore, should something go wrong, is the system easily accessible?

3. Cost. Always a big one. The cost of the system needs to be taken into account. However, short term benefits can lead to long term costs. Check the reliability of the system you're planning to create.

By using this methodology and answering those three questions, you can determine what gearbox, if any, is needed for your drive system. If there's an unavailable gearbox, then custom gearbox design may need to be undertaken.