When you are in need of a custom Falk gearbox, or custom Falk gearbox parts, it is important to have a list of questions ready to ask the manufacturer or consultant. This ensures you get the right information and that the gearing mounts properly and performs to specifications.
Uses of A Custom Falk Gearbox
The industrial gearbox market is expected to grow through 2023. Some factors affecting this demand are the increased use of wind power and other green energy technologies, as well as other more eco-friendly modes of power.
A custom Falk gearbox can be used in a variety of industries and applications. For example, in the steel industry Falk gearboxes are used for over 17 different applications, including elevators and furnace tilt drives to ladle turrets and winch gears. There is also increased demand in the cement and agricultural industries as each one expands to serve ever-growing global needs.
Questions You’ll Need to Answer
There are questions to ask when working with a custom manufacturer, but there are also things you’ll need to know regarding the needs of your application. It’s paramount to consider the service factor, meaning how your gearbox will be used. This means knowing the hours of use per workday and any shock of vibration associated with its use. These can have a big impact on the custom gearbox, as it will be necessary to adapt it to your specific application.
Consider the following:
- What’s the input speed and horsepower?
- What’s the gearbox target output speed or output torque?
- What are the characteristics of use? How many hours per day will the gearbox run? Will it need to withstand shock and vibration?
- How overhung is the load? Is there internal overhung load?
- Does the machine need a shaft or hollow-bore input, or a shaft or hollow-bore output?
- How will the gearing be oriented? For instance, if specifying a right-angle worm gearbox, does the machine need the worm over or under the wheel? Will the shafts protrude from the machine horizontally or vertically?
- Does the environment necessitate corrosion-resistant paints or stainless-steel housing and shafts?
These questions serve as the basis of any discussion before the fabrication of a custom gearbox.
Other Important Factors
After determining service factors, the engineer will then define the class of service. Each gearbox manufacturer utilizes tables and charts to determine class of service. To use the charts “the design engineer must know input horsepower, application type and target ratio.” This will allow them to pinpoint exactly what class of service will be needed by the gearbox in order to keep it functioning efficiently.
Mounting also needs to be determined. You have myriad of options here, from flanged input with hollow bore to a C-frame motor combined “with an output shaft projecting to the left.” The choice of lubrication, seals, and motor integration are also considered. Some manufacturers will ship gearboxes already filled with lubricant, while others do not.
Be sure to perform several test runs with the custom gearbox in environments similar to the ones it will be used in before fully integrating it into your application. This will allow you to workout any adjustments that may need to be made.
In situations where you are unable to get a custom Falk gearbox, say if the vanities are not high enough to warrant the manufacturer doing a custom run, contact us. Our inventory is a great pace to start when it comes to finding the right gearbox for your unique needs.
Posted under Falk Gearboxes on Monday, July 8th, 2019