Planetary gearbox for precision motion axes
The GBX0600080403D is a straight-tooth planetary gearbox from Schneider Electric's GBX series, sized for servo or stepper motor output stages where compact coaxial layout and low backlash matter. With an 8:1 reduction ratio and 96 % efficiency, it converts motor speed to usable torque with minimal thermal loss — the 18 N.m continuous output torque (29 N.m peak) suits indexing tables, pick-and-place axes, and conveyor drives that cycle under 100 rpm.
Backlash, load ratings, and service life
Maximum torsional backlash is 20 arc.min — this sets the repeatability floor for positioning; a higher-precision gearbox (e.g. <10 arc.min) would be needed for cam-driven or laser-cutting axes, but 20 arc.min is adequate for general material handling and packaging machinery. Rated service life is 30000 hours at 100 rpm at 30 °C ambient — this is grease-lubrication life, not gear fatigue; the gearbox is lubricated for life, so no maintenance port or regrease schedule applies. Maximum axial force Fa is 450 N at 100 rpm for the 30000-hour life target (600 N for 10000 hours); maximum radial force Fr is 340 N at 100 rpm, force applied at mid-distance from the output shaft, for the same life target (500 N for 10000 hours). Torsional rigidity is 2.3 N.m/arcmin — the stiffness under load matters when the gearbox is part of a closed-loop servo train; a lower rigidity value would introduce compliance that the servo loop must compensate.
Mounting and environmental fit
The gearbox mounts in any position — horizontal, vertical, or inverted — with a 60 mm external diameter and black anodized aluminium housing. Shaft output is IP54, meaning splash protection but not washdown; the gearbox is suited for dry indoor environments or cabinets where occasional condensation or dust ingress is expected, not for direct hose-down zones.
Active production and sourcing
Noise level is 58 dB at 1 m, no-load — typical for a straight-tooth planetary stage; helical-tooth gearboxes would run quieter but at higher cost and lower efficiency.