Higher-Performance Ultra-Thin Ball Bearings
for Strain Wave Gear Reducers
—Helping extend maintenance intervals and increasing
the efficiency of strain wave gear reducers—
- Customer outlineStrain wave gear reducer manufacturers
- Industry
/FieldRobotics, precision reducers - ProductStrain wave gear reducers
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Problems
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Longer life
- Extending maintenance intervals for strain wave gear reducers
- Preventing bearing failure caused by the intrusion of foreign particles such as gear wear debris
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Higher efficiency
- Decreasing torque loss for strain wave gear reducers
- Decreasing bearing torque
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Longer life
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Solutions
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Special heat treatment
By approaching from both "heat-treatment" and "grinding technology", bearing life has been extended while maintaining high precision for ultra-thin designs. - Optimized cage design
Torque has been reduced by improving rotational stability.
(Also effective in reducing vibration)
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Special heat treatment
Achievements
- Longer life
Improved bearing life in contaminated oil by more than three times compared with conventional products
- Higher efficiency
Reduced bearing torque by 35% compared with conventional products (also achieved about 20% reduction in bearing vibration)
Developer’s Comments
Various robots, particularly industrial robots, require long term maintenance-free operation, compact size, precise motion, energy efficiency, and low noise. Strain wave gear reducers used in robot joints therefore need long life, compactness, high positioning accuracy, high efficiency, and low vibration.
This newly developed product improves bearing life in contaminated oil by applying special heat-treatment to the bearing rings, while also improving rotational stability with its optimized cage design, resulting in reduced torque and low vibration. These improvements contribute to longer maintenance intervals and higher efficiency.
Industrial Solutions Engineering Dept.
Growth Fields Engineering Office
Robotics Speed Reducer Section
Product
Ultra-thin ball bearings for strain wave gear reducers have a structure in which an elliptical camshaft is press-fitted into the inner ring. The bearing rotates while deforming the outer ring and flexspline into an elliptical shape via the balls. This requires the bearing rings to have a fatigue strength capable of withstanding the gear meshing load and repeated deformation generated at the elliptical major axis, as well as characteristics that allow them to flexibly follow camshaft deformation.
This bearing is designed to reconcile the conflicting requirements of being ultra-thin profile and long life, and it makes a significant contribution to the compact design and higher accuracy of industrial robots.
Relevant industries: Robotics, precision reducers
Related applications: Deep groove ball bearings
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