What the 16:1 reduction and 20 N.m continuous torque mean for your axis
The GBX0400160553F is a 40 mm planetary gearbox with a 16:1 reduction ratio, straight-tooth spur gearing, and a continuous output torque rating of 20 N.m at 100 rpm (30 °C ambient). That torque figure is the sustained load the gearset can carry indefinitely — the maximum output torque of 32 N.m is a short-duration peak, not a running limit. Efficiency sits at 94 %, which means roughly 6 % of the input power is lost as heat inside the housing. For a 20 N.m output at 100 rpm, the input power is about 223 W; the 14 W dissipated must be conducted through the black anodised aluminium body. In a confined panel or enclosed axis, that heat load matters for the motor's thermal budget.
Torsional rigidity and backlash — what they govern in a positioning loop
Torsional rigidity is 1.1 N.m per arcminute of twist. That stiffness determines how much angular wind-up occurs under load before the output shaft actually moves — a factor in servo tuning and position error at the load. The maximum torsional backlash of 28 arcminutes is the lost motion when the direction reverses; for a single-direction drive (conveyor, pump) it is irrelevant, but for a reversing axis (pick-and-place, indexing table) it adds to the position deadband.
Lifecycle reality — obsolete, sourced through independent channels
Schneider Electric lists this part as obsolete. The GBX0400160553F is available through independent surplus and broker channels; quantities are lot-specific and confirmed at RFQ. No pin-compatible or footprint-compatible direct replacement is documented by Schneider — a substitution would require a full mechanical and torque-rating cross-check against the application.
Mounting and environmental limits
The gearbox carries an IP54 rating at the shaft output — sealed against dust ingress and splash, but not submersible. The housing is black anodised aluminium; the shaft is C45 carbon steel. The unit is lubricated for life, so there is no re-greasing interval to schedule. Maximum axial force on the output shaft is 200 N at 100 rpm for a 10,000-hour service life, derating to 160 N for 30,000 hours. Maximum radial force (mid-shaft) is 200 N at 100 rpm for 10,000 hours. These limits govern the overhung load from a belt pulley or coupling — exceeding them shortens bearing life faster than the rated 30,000-hour service life.