Obsolete — critical spare for legacy motion axes
For a maintenance spares planner, this means the window to secure a genuine GBX0400160402D is closing — once existing surplus lots are consumed, the only option will be a functionally equivalent gearbox from a different series or manufacturer, likely requiring a mechanical re-fit.
16:1 reduction, 20 N.m continuous — motion profile fit
The GBX0400160402D is a 40 mm-diameter planetary gearbox with a 16:1 reduction ratio and a continuous output torque rating of 20 N.m. The maximum intermittent torque reaches 32 N.m, so the duty cycle determines which figure governs the application — continuous positioning or short-duration peak loads. Straight-tooth planetary gearing gives this gearbox a torsional backlash of 35 arcmin. That is a moderate precision class — adequate for general indexing and conveyor drives, but not for zero-backlash servo positioning where cumulative error in a reversing load would exceed the tolerance budget. Torsional rigidity is 1.1 N.m/arcmin, meaning the gearbox winds up about 0.9 arcmin per N.m of applied torque. In a high-gain servo loop this windup must be within the stiffness the controller can compensate without oscillation.
94% efficiency and 30000 h service life
At 94% efficiency, the GBX0400160402D loses about 6% of input power as heat. For a 20 N.m output at 100 rpm that is roughly 12 W of thermal dissipation — manageable in free air but needs consideration if the gearbox is enclosed in a non-ventilated cabinet. Service life is rated at 30000 hours at 100 rpm and 30 °C ambient. At higher speeds or temperatures the life derates — the maximum axial and radial force figures drop from 200 N at 10000 hours to 160 N at 30000 hours, so the bearing life and the gear life share the same thermal and load envelope. The gearbox is lubricated for life with no maintenance schedule — a sealed-for-life design that simplifies installation but means the unit is replaced, not serviced, when the lubricant degrades.
Mounting and environmental fit
The 40 mm external diameter and black anodized aluminium housing with C45 steel shaft give a compact, corrosion-resistant package. Mounting position is unrestricted — horizontal, vertical, or angled — which simplifies integration into tight machine frames. Shaft output carries IP54 protection, meaning dust ingress is limited and splash water from any direction is tolerated. The gearbox operates from -25 to 90 °C ambient, covering most indoor industrial environments and some outdoor sheltered installations. Noise output is 55 dB at 1 m, no-load — quieter than a typical office conversation, so the gearbox will not be the dominant acoustic source in a machine unless other components are unusually silent.