5:1 planetary gearbox, 40 mm frame, 14 N.m continuous — what that means for your axis
The GBX0400051004F is a 40 mm-diameter planetary gearbox from Schneider Electric's GBX series, with a 5:1 reduction ratio and straight-cut teeth. It delivers 14 N.m continuous output torque at 100 rpm, and can handle up to 22 N.m peak at the same speed — the margin matters for acceleration transients on indexing axes where the load spike exceeds the continuous rating but stays within the maximum.
Efficiency, backlash, and service life — the numbers that govern the duty cycle
Rated 94 % efficiency, which is typical for a single-stage planetary — most of the 6 % loss goes into gear mesh friction and bearing drag, not heat that would require derating in a sealed gearbox. Maximum torsional backlash is 24 arc.min. That is a standard-precision grade — fine for positioning conveyors or rotary tables where repeatability is more important than absolute accuracy, but not for a servo-driven ball screw on a machining axis where single-digit arc.min backlash is the norm. Service life is 30,000 hours at 100 rpm and 30 °C ambient — a typical three-shift line runs about 8,000 hours per year, so this gearbox is good for roughly 3–4 years at rated load before the lubricant degradation or bearing wear becomes a concern. Lubricated for life; no oil-change interval to schedule. Torsional rigidity is 1 N.m/arcmin — at rated continuous torque (14 N.m), the windup is about 14 arcmin, which is within the backlash envelope but means the output shaft position shifts under load. For a positioning system, the controller must account for this compliance in the gain loop.
Mounting and environmental limits — where this gearbox fits
The housing is black anodized aluminium, 40 mm external diameter — a compact form factor that fits inside a C-frame or small actuator housing. Shaft material is C45 steel, standard for this class. IP54 at the shaft output — sealed against dust ingress and splashing water, but not submersion. Suitable for indoor machine builds or washdown-adjacent zones where the gearbox is not directly hosed. Ambient operating range -25 to 90 °C — the lower end covers cold-start in unheated halls; the upper end keeps the lubricant film intact near a hot motor or oven wall. Maximum radial force (Fr) is 200 N at 100 rpm for the 10,000-hour life target, dropping to 160 N for the full 30,000-hour service life — the overhung load from a belt pulley or sprocket must stay within these limits or the output bearing life collapses. Maximum axial force (Fa) is the same 200 N / 160 N profile — relevant when the output shaft is loaded axially by a lead screw or thrust collar.
Obsolete — what that means for procurement
Schneider Electric lists the GBX0400051004F as obsolete. Sourced through independent distribution against an RFQ — quantities are lot-specific and confirmed at quote time. No stock-holding claim; availability confirmed per request.