What Is a Precision Reducer?
A precision reducer is a mechanical component that reduces the rotational speed of a motor, enabling high-precision positioning.
Motors rotate at high speeds but have the characteristic of producing low torque. Therefore, in situations requiring significant force, a reducer is essential to reduce the motor’s rotational speed and amplify the torque. While general-purpose reducers primarily aim to transmit power, Precision Reducers are products designed specifically to achieve precise stopping.
They are designed to minimize backlash—the gap between gears—enabling precise stopping at the commanded angle. Significant backlash causes slight deviation from the target position during stopping. Precision reducers physically eliminate this play, making them effective for applications requiring micron-level control.
Applications of Precision Reducers
Precision reducers are used in applications such as:
1. Industrial Robots
A primary application is in the joint sections of industrial robots operating in factories. Arm-type robots require both robust strength and delicate movement to lift heavy components and place them precisely at designated locations. Incorporating Precision Reducers into the shafts forming the robot joints enables accurate stopping at targeted coordinates.
2. Machine Tools
Precision reducers are also widely used in machine tools like machining centers that process metals. They are frequently employed as the drive source for tables that rotate workpieces and for devices that automatically change cutting tools. Using precision reducers ensures positional accuracy even under cutting loads, enabling high-precision machining of complex-shaped parts.
3. Semiconductor Manufacturing Equipment & Medical Devices
They are utilized in robots transporting semiconductor wafers and in the swivel drive units of CT scanners that examine inside patients. In semiconductor manufacturing equipment, vibration must be minimized to the utmost to prevent misalignment of fine circuit patterns. In medical devices like surgical assistance robots, instruments must move smoothly according to the surgeon’s commands.
In these advanced technical fields, Precision Reducers are selected to ensure both movement accuracy and quiet operation.