Obsolete — sourcing reality for the GBX0400031001F
This planetary gearbox is available through independent surplus and broker channels; quantities are lot-specific and confirmed at RFQ. No pin-compatible successor is recorded from the original manufacturer.
The 3:1 reduction ratio means the output shaft turns once for every three input revolutions, multiplying input torque by roughly three minus the efficiency loss. At 94 % efficiency, the gearbox retains most of the input power — about 6 % is lost to friction and churning losses in the straight-tooth planetary stage. Straight teeth are simpler and more efficient than helical gears at low speeds, but they generate more noise and vibration at higher RPM — this gearbox is sized for applications where the input speed keeps the tooth engagement below the audible whine threshold. The 40 mm external diameter and black anodised aluminium housing suit compact servo or stepper motor integrations where envelope and heat dissipation are the binding constraints.
Service life and load limits — the numbers that govern the fit
Rated service life is 30,000 hours at 100 rpm and 86 °F (30 °C). The gearbox is lubricated for life — no field re-lube interval, so the seal integrity and operating temperature drive the actual service life. Maximum axial force on the output shaft is 200 N at 100 rpm for a 10,000-hour life, derated to 160 N for the full 30,000-hour window. Radial force follows the same pattern: 200 N at mid-span for 10,000 hours, 160 N for 30,000 hours. These are the load limits that define the application envelope — exceed them and the bearing or shaft life collapses. Torsional rigidity is 1 N·m/arcmin, and maximum torsional backlash is 24 arcmin. The backlash figure is relatively high — this gearbox is not intended for precision positioning or reversing loads where lost motion must be under a few arcminutes.