The switch from classic metal gearboxes to worm gear screw jacks made of high-performance plastic from the drygear Apiro series promises several advantages: reduced costs, lower weight and no need for lubrication. However, many design engineers were not able to make this transition because the operating environments were too harsh and demanding. With the drygear Apiro HD, igus is now presenting a hybrid solution that closes precisely this gap.
For simple adjustment tasks, metal gearboxes can be oversized, heavy, maintenance-intensive and expensive. One alternative is the modular gearbox system Apiro from igus. Design engineers can use its joints, drive units and gearboxes, most of which are made of high-performance plastics, to create lightweight, cost-effective, lubrication-free automation solutions. These include simple pusher systems for material handling and format adjustment systems for the food and beverage industry.
Up to 70kg load
The new zinc die-casting housing has increased the load capacity of the gearbox. The more rigid housing material allows a mechanical load of up to 70kg and a dynamic load of the gearbox of up to 25kg. The new housing responds to increased requirements in format adjustment and safeguards the function against mechanical impacts. Zinc die-casting is also more cost-effective to produce than aluminium or steel. The material is characterised by its high strength and corrosion resistance. Thanks to its low melting point, zinc is very easy to process and permits particularly precise, dimensionally accurate production. This reduces both the energy requirement and the effort required for post-processing. The plastic worm gear with a 4:1 ratio continues to operate inside this hybrid version, so that it remains free from lubrication and maintenance.
