New Magnetic Gears and Couplings
R.A. Rodriguez (UK) Ltd can now offer magnetic, non-contact gears and couplings from KHK Motion Drives, a subsidiary of KHK Gears (Kohara Gear Industry Co. Ltd).
KHK Gears is a leading Japanese gear manufacturer known for its mechanical stock gears. The company’s recently launched subsidiary KHK Motion Drives offers a new range of magnetic gears, couplings, racks and pinions and speed reducers. These components use the magnetic force generated by permanent magnets to generate non-contact power transmission.
Magnetic gears offer unique advantages. As there is no direct contact from tooth surfaces, there is no particle generation from surface wear. This makes magnetic gears particularly suitable for cleanroom and other contamination-sensitive applications requiring high cleanliness, such as semiconductor manufacturing equipment.
Another benefit of non-contact technology is that it offers lubrication-free operation. As the gear surfaces do not touch, there is no need for lubrication. This reduces maintenance requirements and operating costs, whilst eliminating contamination concerns in cleanroom and vacuum environments.
Vibration and noise caused by tooth collision and friction does not occur. This enables quieter, smoother operation when compared to mechanical gears. Additionally, magnetic gears can tolerate a certain degree of centre distance variation, angular misalignment and positional offset, making assembly and maintenance easier.
KHK magnetic gears feature a built-in torque-limiting function. When the load exceeds the allowable transmissible torque, magnetic slip occurs, preventing excessive torque transmission. This helps protect motors and surrounding equipment from overload conditions such as sudden stoppages or foreign object intrusion. No additional mechanical torque limiter is required, helping simplify system design.
The demagnetisation of the magnets used in KHK’s non-contact technology only occurs at a rate of 0.1% per year, resulting in a magnetic strength reduction of only about 1% even after 10 years. The impact on transmitted torque is negligible, enabling stable power transmission over long periods of operation. This helps to reduce maintenance requirements and lower the total cost of ownership (TCO).
With potential applications in semiconductor manufacturing, medical devices and food processing equipment, KHK’s new range of non-contact, magnetic technology is an exciting addition to R.A. Rodriguez (UK) Ltd’s product range.
R.A. Rodriguez (UK) Ltd can now offer KHK Motion Drives magnetic gears and couplings in the UK, as well as in Europe through its network of sub-distribution partners.
