Planetary gearbox, 20:1, 800 N.m continuous — what the torque ratings mean
The GBX1600200554F is a straight-tooth planetary gearbox from Schneider Electric's GBX series, 160 mm outer diameter, with a 20:1 reduction ratio. This ratio means the input speed is divided by 20 while the output torque is multiplied by roughly the same factor, minus the 94% efficiency loss. Continuous output torque is 800 N.m (7080.6 lbf.in) at 100 rpm and 30 °C. Maximum output torque hits 1280 N.m (11328.9 lbf.in) under the same conditions — that 60% headroom above continuous covers peak loads during acceleration or momentary overloads without damaging the gear train. The 94% efficiency figure is the mechanical efficiency at rated load — 6% of input power is lost to gear mesh friction and bearing drag. For a 10 kW input, that's 600 W of heat that the housing must dissipate; the black anodized aluminium body handles that thermal load in normal ambient conditions.
Sourcing reality — obsolete, quoted to order
Schneider Electric lists this gearbox as obsolete. The part is available through independent surplus and broker channels — quantities are lot-specific and confirmed at RFQ. For a line-down replacement or a BOM fill, the sourcing posture is quoted-to-order against the required quantity.
Load ratings and service life — what 30000 hours buys
Service life is rated 30000 hours at 100 rpm and 30 °C ambient. That's about 3.4 years of continuous 24/7 operation at rated load. The gearbox is lubricated for life — no oil changes or regreasing intervals during that service window. Maximum axial force on the output shaft is 6000 N for the full 30000-hour life, or 8000 N if you accept a 10000-hour life. Radial force limits are 4200 N at mid-shaft for 30000 hours, 6000 N for 10000 hours. These are the bearing load limits — exceeding them shortens life faster than torque overload does. Torsional rigidity is 41 N.m/arcmin — that's the stiffness of the gear train. For a servo application positioning a load, each N.m of torque error twists the output by about 0.024 arcmin. Combined with the 10 arcmin maximum backlash, this gearbox suits moderate-precision indexing, not sub-arcminute positioning.
Mounting and environmental fit
Shaft output seal is rated IP54 — protected against dust ingress and splashing water. That's fine for dry indoor environments but not washdown. The housing is black anodized aluminium, shaft material is C45 carbon steel. The 90 °C ceiling is the internal lubricant limit — the gearbox can sit next to a hot motor or in a non-ventilated enclosure without derating, as long as the housing surface stays below that. Noise level is 70 dB at 1 m, no-load. That's conversational-level sound — noticeable but not intrusive in a machine shop. Under load the noise rises with torque; the straight-tooth design is inherently noisier than helical, but the planetary layout spreads the mesh over multiple planets to keep it manageable.