Purchasing a reducer is like a precise "blind date". Choosing the right one is a good match, but choosing the wrong one will not only cause frequent equipment failures and soaring energy consumption, but may even lead to production shutdowns and huge economic losses. In order to help you avoid these common "pits", the following summarizes the 7 major misunderstandings that you must be wary of when purchasing a reducer:
1. Only look at the motor power and ignore the core torque
This is the easiest pitfall for novices. The motor power is not equal to the adaptable power of the reducer. Miscalculating the torque will cause the reducer to "strike" directly. The actual required torque must be calculated according to the formula (torque = 9550 × motor power/output speed), and a safety margin of at least 20% must be left.
2. Blind pursuit of high reduction ratio
The speed ratio determines whether the reducer "runs fast" or "runs slowly", but it is not that higher is better. Excessive pursuit of a high reduction ratio will not only greatly reduce equipment efficiency and increase costs, but may also keep the motor in an inefficient operating range for a long time, which in turn increases energy consumption.
3. Ignore load type and working condition characteristics
It is a fatal mistake to directly copy the model without looking at the load characteristics. Constant loads, impact loads (such as cranes) or inertial loads with frequent starts and stops impose different challenges on the reducer. For example, in situations where load impact is large, a hard-tooth surface reducer with high fatigue resistance and buffer design must be selected, and the safety factor must be increased (more than 1.5 times is recommended).
4. Ignore the installation space and interface size
In order to pursue a small size or not leave enough space in the design, the on-site flange plate does not align, the shaft extension length is insufficient, or the connection method does not match. Not only will this result in on-site installation being impossible or having to modify the rack and delaying the construction period, forced installation will also cause additional stress and damage the equipment.
5. Choosing cheap brands and ignoring the whole life cycle cost
Although the initial purchase price of white-brand or low-quality reducers is low, they often have problems such as material shrinkage, low gear accuracy, rapid aging of sealing rings, and oil leakage or broken teeth every three days. Its high maintenance costs and downtime losses far exceed the purchase price difference. Within the budget, you should give priority to brands with good reputations (such as domestic Guomao and Jie brands, imported SEW, Flanders, etc.).
