40:1 planetary gearbox for indexing and positioning axes
The GBX1200401403F is a straight-tooth planetary gearbox from Schneider Electric's GBX series, sized for servo or stepper motor output stages where a 40:1 reduction is needed to multiply torque and reduce speed. With a 120 mm housing diameter and black anodized aluminium construction, it fits compact machine axes — pick-and-place gantries, rotary indexing tables, or conveyor drive heads where the motor mounts directly to the gearbox input flange.
Torque ratings and duty cycle limits
Continuous output torque is 230 N.m at 100 rpm and 30 °C ambient — this is the sustained load the gearbox can carry across its 30,000-hour service life without exceeding the thermal limits of the lubricant or bearing set. Maximum output torque reaches 368 N.m under the same conditions, but that figure is a short-duration peak for acceleration or shock loads, not a continuous rating. Torsional rigidity is 13 N.m/arcmin, meaning the output shaft twists 1 arcminute for every 13 N.m of applied torque. Combined with the 12 arcmin maximum backlash, this gearbox suits positioning axes where repeatability matters more than absolute accuracy — the straight-tooth geometry trades some smoothness for lower cost compared to helical planetary stages. Efficiency is 94 % at rated load, so 6 % of input power dissipates as heat inside the housing. The aluminium body and IP54 shaft output seal handle that thermal load in clean, dry environments; the gearbox is lubricated for life, so no oil changes are needed over the service interval.
Shaft load capacity and operating envelope
Maximum axial force (Fa) on the output shaft is 2100 N for the full 30,000-hour life at 100 rpm and 30 °C, or 2800 N if the application accepts a shorter 10,000-hour bearing life. Radial force (Fr) is 1500 N for 30,000 hours, 2000 N for 10,000 hours — both measured with the force applied at mid-distance from the output shaft. These limits govern belt-drive or overhung-load setups where the gearbox shaft sees side loads from pulleys or sprockets. Ambient temperature range spans -25 to 90 °C, covering most indoor industrial environments. The C45 steel output shaft and anodized aluminium housing resist corrosion in moderate humidity, but the IP54 shaft seal means the gearbox is not rated for washdown — it keeps dust and splashing water out of the bearing cavity, not pressurized jets.