Harmonic Drive LLC Announces Lightweight Gearheads

20-30% lighter gearheads available with the same specs

Harmonic Drive LLC, a leader in high precision motion control introduces lightweight versions of select gearhead products. These new gearheads are ideal for designs where weight is a critical factor.


Building on the success of Harmonic Drive LLCs current CSF, CSG, SHG, and SHF gear units, new lightweight versions were the next logical evolution of the product lines. Achieving weight reductions of 20-30% without any reduction in torque ratings, the CSF-LW, CSG-LW, SHG-LW and SHF-LW gear units provide exceptional torque density.· CSF/CSG-LW Precision Lightweight Gearheads

Ideally suited for robotic applications, the new CSG-LW and CSF-LW gearheads are 30% lighter than previous designs without reducing the torque rating or significantly changing interface dimensions. The CSG high-torque gearhead delivers 30% more torque and 40% longer life with zero-backlash, 1 arc-min accuracy, and ±5 arc-sec repeatability. A high capacity cross roller bearing and output flange is used to support the driven load. A wide variety of sizes and reduction ratios are available with peak torques ranging from 450 in-lbs. to 60,500 in-lbs.

· SHF/SHG-LW Lightweight Hollow Shaft Gearing

SHF-LW and SHG-LW hollow shaft gearheads are 20% lighter than previous units. Available in a wide range of sizes, these zero backlash, 1 arc-min accuracy Harmonic Drive gearheads enable design engineers to pass shafts, wires, tubing, or other components directly through the center of the gear. The gearhead incorporates a high capacity cross roller bearing and an output flange to mount the load directly without the need for an additional support bearing. Gear ratios from 30:1 through 160:1 are available. The smallest unit has a hollow shaft ID of 14 mm and an outer diameter of just 64 mm. The largest unit of the family has a hollow shaft ID of 80 mm and a peak torque rating of 6,175 in-lb.

Known for its expert engineering and manufacturing, Harmonic Drive LLC products are relied upon every day throughout the unmanned systems community. Common unmanned systems applications for our products include robotic arms, gimbals & stabilized platforms, antenna positioning, and wheel drives for mobile robots. Our products are inherently light-weight and offer high torque capacity with exceptional positioning accuracy and repeatability. We offer standard and custom engineered products to provide high performance solutions to meet customers requirements for mission critical applications. Harmonic Drive gear products offer zero-backlash with reduction ratios from 30:1 to 160:1 and are available in sizes ranging from 0.625 inches to over 10 inches in diameter.

APPLICATIONS for Harmonic Drive products:

* Defense: Unmanned Vehicles, Remote Weapon Stations, Antenna Pointing
* Robotics: Industrial, Semiconductor & Flat Panel, Humanoid, Mobile Robots
* Medical: Surgical Robots, Medical Imaging, Therapeutic, Prosthetics, Exoskeletons, Lab Automation
* Aerospace: Solar Array Drives, Antenna Pointing, Valve Actuators, Lunar and Interplanetary Rovers
* Machine Tool: Milling Head, Tool Changer, Rotary Table, Grinding, B & C Axis
* Energy: oil exploration, drilling and positioning, wind power, solar

KEY PERFORMANCE features for Harmonic Drive servo actuators, gearheads and component sets:

* True Zero Backlash
* Excellent positional accuracy and repeatability
* High Torque-to-Weight and Torque-to-Volume ratios
* Compact size
* High Reliability
* Single stage high reduction ratio

About Harmonic Drive LLC
Harmonic Drive LLC designs and manufactures precision Harmonic Drive servo actuators, gearheads and gear component sets. They work with industry-leading customers and companies of all sizes to provide both standard product and custom-engineered servo actuators, gearheads and gear components. Harmonic Drive LLC provides high precision, high performance solutions to meet customers mission critical application requirements. The majority of the products sold by HDLLC are manufactured in the United States. Affiliated companies in, Japan (Harmonic Drive Systems, Inc.) and Germany (Harmonic Drive AG) provide additional manufacturing capabilities.

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