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Worm Gear Motor Lifespan

Discussion in 'DIY Motion Simulator Building Q&A / FAQ' started by scalhoun, Oct 19, 2014.

  1. scalhoun

    scalhoun Active Member

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    Out of curiosity... Anyone have any info on the expected life of a worm gear motor used in motion sims?
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  2. bsft

    bsft

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    how longs a piece of string?
    Run it till it breaks!
    When I started working with the motors about 2 or so years ago, I told the supplier what I was planning to do and he immediately voided warranty. Those original motors are still going with 200 plus hours of abuse.
    There has been occasions of teeth getting worn on the 25:1 boxes , but that seemed to be from overload, a problem you will not have with your set up.
  3. stroutmail

    stroutmail Member SimAxe Beta Tester Gold Contributor

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    Here is a quote from an article in Indus trial Automation. If the gears are metal and oil bath lubed..life probably more than 150K cycles..that depends on load and speed. Somewhere between 500 and 2000 hours. My guessay is biggest stress is when getting into and out of seat when more for ce put on the worm.


    Industrial worm gear reducers use gearing consisting of a hardened worm running with a worm gear manufactured from a softer material. The softer material is a bronze alloy selected with wear in mind. Unlike hardened helical or bevel gear sets, a worm gear set is designed to “wear-in” over time.

    Some people think that the wearing of the worm gear will result in a shorter life than other types of gearing. However, wearing of the bronze worm gear drops off substantially after the wear-in period is over.

    When worm gear manufacturers select a bronze material, they balance the resistance of the bronze to wearing out over time against the ability to wear-in. During the wearing-in process, the temperature of the worm gear will temporarily increase. A softer bronze will wear-in more quickly with lower break-in temperatures, but it will not last as long. A harder bronze will last longer but will generate higher break-in temperatures. A harder bronze is the best compromise between wear-in and wear-out. When properly sized to the application, worm gear reducers last at least as long as other types of gearing.
    • Informative Informative x 3
  4. bsft

    bsft

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    We put motors and gearboxes through a LOT more than they are designed for.
    • Agree Agree x 3
  5. stroutmail

    stroutmail Member SimAxe Beta Tester Gold Contributor

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    Here's one that probably will handle anything we want to throw at it! Motor Control would have to carry a lot of amps though.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
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  6. stroutmail

    stroutmail Member SimAxe Beta Tester Gold Contributor

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  7. BlazinH

    BlazinH Well-Known Member

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    A lot of detail there! :confused: All I know is worm gearing generally means higher friction which equates to more wear.
  8. Pit

    Pit - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Gold Contributor

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    Again this all is theoretical. If a vendor says he will void warranty because of the use of non standard operation so this is really funny. In my case and opinion my motors (winches using planetary gearbox) are made for pulling big things like boats. After six months of regularly operation I opened two of them and they are like new. IMO electrical motors are fit-and-forget.
  9. bsft

    bsft

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    Motion Dynamics did when I bought the motors originally and told him what I was going to do with them. They still going, no I havent opened them to see how they are going. If it aint broke, dont fix.
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  10. BlazinH

    BlazinH Well-Known Member

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    If you have excessive wearing on your worm gear you should be able to tell without opening it. You should notice an increase in the amount of backlash. If you brake off a tooth however, that is quite obvious.
    • Agree Agree x 1
  11. cit

    cit New Member

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    we use a lot of wormgear motors also different typs , i think they are indestructable, sometimes the wormgeare broke,or the variable frequenzy drive broke. by ebay kleinanzeigen you can buy motors out of DDR time more than 20 years old.