Frequently Asked Questions:

Gear Reducers

Q. Can I get special gearboxes with different ratings and dimensions?
A. Yes, custom gearboxes are possible for all types of GAM GEAR^® units. Gearboxes with improved technical ratings can be achieved through small design changes such as different bearings, different gears, or circulating lubrication. Custom modifications to the housing are also possible.

Q. What sizes of motors can I mount to GAM GEAR^® units?
A. GAM makes custom motor adapter plates to mount to ANY motor size and type.

Q. How do I size a GAM GEAR^® unit?
A. Sizing Page

Q. How does torsional stiffness affect my servo system?
A. Higher torsional stiffness results in higher positioning accuracy in dynamic applications. In applications that require quick cycle times, high torsional stiffness allows the system to make more precise accelerations and decelerations. This higher precision also allows the system to operate quicker without compromising accuracy.

Couplings

Q. What causes a coupling to fail?
A. Many things can cause a coupling to fail, but the most common causes are misalignment, overload torque, and resonance.

Q. How do you tell what caused the coupling to fail?
A. Misalignment: If the coupling fails due to misalignment, the coupling will most likely be in two pieces. The bellows will shear in the first corrugation close to the hub. The shear will also be relatively clean and will not be jagged. Overload Torque: If the coupling fails due to an overload, the coupling may be in one or two pieces. Either way the bellow will be greatly deformed and will look as if the bellow was twisted in half. If it is in two pieces, the shear will be very jagged. Resonance: If the coupling fails due to resonance, the coupling will be in good condition. The only sign of failure will be a small break in the center of the bellow. Usually the break will look as if a small rectangular section has been punched out of the bellows.

Q. How do I prevent a coupling from failing again?
A. Misalignment: To prevent a misalignment failure you can either choose a coupling with a higher misalignment tolerance or correct the misalignment in the application. Overload Torque: To prevent an overload torque you can either switch to a larger coupling that will be able to transmit the high peak torque or switch to a safety coupling (torque limiter). Resonance: To prevent another resonance failure, you can either adjust the gain on the servo system or switch to a larger coupling with a different resonance frequency.

Q. Do I need a keyway in my coupling?
A. No you do not need a keyway. Our couplings are designed to transmit well over the rated torque without the use of keyways. If a keyway is used, some highly dynamic applications will cause the key to wear overtime which will introduce backlash into the system. If the shaft you are using has a key, we recommend that you pull the key out and clamp the coupling onto the shaft as done normally.

Q. What could cause the coupling to slip on the shaft?
A. Several things can cause a coupling to slip on the shaft including; there may be oil on the shaft, the bolts may not be tightened to the specified amount, or the coupling may not be meeting the minimum shaft engagement.

Q. If I am trying to achieve high torsional stiffness in my coupling, are there any other issues that I need to be concerned with?
A. Yes, high stiffness is very important but you also need to ensure that the lateral spring rate is acceptable for the application. If the lateral spring rate is too high and there is a slight amount of misalignment, a lateral force will be transmitted to the bearings and could cause premature bearing failure.

Q. How do I size a coupling?
A. The coupling should be sized so that the nominal torque rating of the coupling should be greater than or equal to peak torque of the application.