Apex Dynamics – The GL Series: Precision Gearboxes for AGV Applications

Which Gearbox is Ideal for Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs)?

As a manufacturer of gearboxes, racks, and pinions with low backlash, Apex Dynamics has increasingly received requests for gearboxes for this specific application, leading the company to develop and offer a series of gearboxes tailored for this type of mobile robot: the GL Series.

An AGV (Automated Guided Vehicle) is a mobile robot often used in industrial applications to transport materials in a factory or warehouse. Since the late 20th century, AGVs have become increasingly important in logistics and are now essential in many processes.

High-End Gearbox for AGV Applications
In addition to the previously mentioned PD / PDR and PL / PLR mid-range models, Apex Dynamics has developed a high-end version specifically for this market: the GL Series. The main difference between these series is that the GL Series features helical gears with a backlash of a maximum of 3 arc minutes (single stage). With this series, the flange and housing are made of a rotating part, making it ideal for mounting and supporting the wheel against it without generating a high bending moment.

Version with Input Shaft
Alongside the GL Series, there is also a GLS version with a solid input shaft (with or without a keyway), particularly for applications where wheels or pulleys are not directly driven by a motor. The GL Series is available with ratios ranging from 3:1 to 90:1. The GL/GLS Series is constructed differently from a standard planetary gearbox: what would normally be the fixed housing is now the rotating output flange, and what is typically the output shaft is now the fixed part mounted on the frame. This construction allows for a 2:1 ratio.

Gearbox Suitable for AGV Applications
The most suitable gearboxes for AGV applications have the following characteristics:

Planetary gear transmission, providing the highest torque density, making the system compact.

Low noise levels and high resistance to breakage or overload protection, thanks to helical teeth.

High positioning accuracy due to low backlash.

Oversized bearings that can support higher radial loads (allowing for a higher net payload).

A wide range of ratios, from 2:1 to 90:1.

Compatibility with all types of motors: three-phase, stepper, and servo motors.

High efficiency to convert electrical energy into kinetic energy as efficiently as possible.

Other Applications for the GL/GLS Series
In addition to AGV applications, the GL/GLS Series can also be used in other applications such as belt drives (toothed belts), positioning tables, or wheel drives for electric mobility.

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