15:1 planetary gearbox — 18 N.m continuous, 40 mm frame
The GBX0400150704F is a 40 mm-diameter planetary gearbox from Schneider Electric's GBX series, delivering a 15:1 reduction ratio with straight-cut teeth. Its continuous output torque is 18 N.m at 100 rpm and 30 °C, with a maximum intermittent torque of 29 N.m under the same conditions. Rated service life is 30,000 hours at rated load, and the unit ships lubricated for life — no maintenance oil changes in the field. The 94 % efficiency figure means about 6 % of input power is lost to friction and windage, typical for a single-stage planetary with straight teeth.
Load capacity and mechanical limits
Maximum torsional backlash is 28 arc-minutes — this is a standard-precision gearbox, not a zero-backlash unit for servo positioning. If your application needs less than 10 arc-min of lost motion, this gearbox will not hold position repeatably under reversing loads. Maximum radial force on the output shaft is 200 N at mid-shaft for a 10,000-hour life, dropping to 160 N for the full 30,000-hour rating. Maximum axial force follows the same pattern: 200 N for 10,000 hours, 160 N for 30,000 hours. Both figures are at 100 rpm and 30 °C ambient. Torsional rigidity is 1.1 N.m per arc-minute of twist — a 10 N.m load will wind the output shaft about 9 arc-minutes relative to the input, which adds to the backlash for total positioning error.
Sourcing reality — obsolete, available through independent channels
Schneider Electric lists the GBX0400150704F as obsolete. The gearbox is available through independent surplus and new-old-stock channels. Quantities are confirmed at RFQ; each unit is traceable to its original production lot. No warranty from the original manufacturer applies — coverage is through the sourcing distributor's own terms.
Environmental and integration specs
Shaft output seal is rated IP54 — protected against dust ingress and splashing water, but not submersion or high-pressure washdown. The housing is black anodized aluminium; the shaft is C45 carbon steel. Operating ambient range is -25 °C to +90 °C. Noise level is 55 dB at 1 m under no-load conditions — quiet enough for indoor machinery but not silent; expect higher levels under load due to gear mesh harmonics.