Compact versions for smart automation

Nabtesco Precision Europe GmbH is known for excellent engineering and high levels of innovation. Its latest achievement is a digital wave gear that requires no additional space. The backlash-free plug-and-play solutions open up new potential in terms of performance, condition monitoring, process optimization, cost efficiency and machine and robot availability, thus ushering in a new era.

Nabtesco, a world-leading specialist in precision gears, is part of a family of companies that has a unique combination of outstanding gear expertise, innovative electronics and software development, many years of experience and mechatronic system expertise. This combined know-how is the basis for exciting innovations and groundbreaking solutions. With the digital gear, Nabtesco Precision Europe GmbH has set another milestone. The new wave gear integrates intelligent sensors with the same dimensions as a standard gear, creating an extremely compact solution for smart automation. This concept, which is unique on the market, offers numerous advantages.

The digital wave gear enables enormous savings potential

Sensors measure torques, temperatures and vibrations. In combination with practical experience, they provide reliable information about the condition of the gearbox. The integrated evaluation electronics (EEU) analyzes the data and sends it directly to the higher-level control system via the bus system. The operator receives recommendations for action in order to react promptly to changing parameters and initiate appropriate measures.

Continuous condition monitoring enables the calculation of the actual gearbox service life, the determination of gearbox errors, the identification of overloads, unsuitable operating points and misuse cases and creates the prerequisites for optimization strategies and predictive maintenance. Overall, the savings potential is in the double-digit percentage range.

More benefits with the same installation space

“Our compact, sensor-based wave gears expand our range of digital solutions and lead drive technology into the future. Our plug-and-play product combines high-precision, backlash-free technology with smart sensors and artificial intelligence - with the same gearbox size. "This solves key problems for our customers and makes a significant contribution to increasing efficiency, optimizing performance, saving resources and being cost-effective," says Daniel Obladen, Director Sales & Marketing at Nabtesco Precision Europe GmbH, summing up the advantages.

Modular wave gears of excellent quality

The digital wave gears are produced at the Ovalo GmbH site in Limburg/Lahn according to automotive standards (IATF certification 16949). They are characterized by absolute freedom from backlash, outstanding repeatability, maintenance-free construction, 100 percent traceability and high torque capacity (up to 15% higher than conventional wave gears) - and all of this in a compact and lightweight design. In addition, they can be individually adapted to the respective application in terms of performance, geometry, material and interfaces if required, including functional, component and system integration.

The digital wave gear is available as a gear set plus, gear unit, hat gear (HTG), pot gear (CTG) and with and without a hollow shaft. The gearboxes are calibrated in Limburg/Lahn; calibration in the target application by the customer is not necessary.