Planetary gearbox, 8:1 reduction, 50 N.m continuous — what the ratings mean
The GBX0800081004F is a Schneider Electric planetary gearbox with straight teeth, 80 mm housing diameter, and an 8:1 reduction ratio. The 50 N.m continuous output torque at 100 rpm and 30 °C is the sustained load the gearbox can carry in service — not a peak or intermittent figure, so it governs the duty cycle for conveyor, indexing, or positioning applications. Rated efficiency is 94 %, which means 6 % of the input power is lost as heat inside the housing. In a compact 80 mm aluminium body, that thermal budget is tight — the gearbox relies on the anodised surface for convection cooling, not an external fan. Maximum output torque is 80 N.m at 100 rpm and 30 °C, but that figure assumes a 30000-hour service life. For a 10000-hour design life at the same speed and temperature, the allowable axial and radial loads increase — 1200 N axial force vs 900 N, and 950 N radial force vs 650 N. The service life target drives the load limit, not the other way around.
Backlash, noise, and environmental fit
Maximum torsional backlash is 9 arcmin — this is the angular play between input and output when the direction reverses. For a positioning axis that indexes to a stop, 9 arcmin at the output translates to about 0.13 mm of linear error at a 50 mm radius arm. If the application needs tighter positioning, a lower-backlash gearbox (e.g. 3 arcmin) would be the correct class. Noise level is 60 dB at 1 m, no-load — a moderate figure for a straight-tooth planetary. In a quiet production area (55 dB ambient), the gearbox will be audible; in a typical machine hall (75 dB+), it will not stand out. The straight-tooth design is inherently noisier than helical, but the trade-off is lower cost and no axial thrust load on the bearings. Shaft output is IP54 — the seal at the output shaft keeps out dust and splashing water, but the gearbox is not rated for washdown or hose-down cleaning. The housing itself is sealed, but the input shaft and breather (if present) are the ingress points to watch. Ambient operating range is -25 to 90 °C, which covers most indoor industrial environments but not ovens or freezers without derating.
Obsolete — sourcing through independent channels
Schneider Electric lists the GBX0800081004F as obsolete. The gearbox is available through independent surplus and broker channels — quantities are lot-specific and confirmed at RFQ. The gearbox is lubricated for life — no re-greasing interval. The C45 steel shaft and black anodised aluminium housing are standard for this class; the shaft material is machinable for custom keyways or flats if the application requires it.