The difference between cycloidal pinwheel reducer and planetary reducer

There are the following differences between cycloidal pinwheel reducers and planetary reducers:
Structural principle

Cycloid pinwheel reducer: adopts the principle of cycloidal pinwheel meshing and planetary transmission. The outer gear tooth profile is a twisted cycloid, and the inner gear tooth profile is a circular pin, with both meshing internally. The rotation of the input shaft causes the cycloidal gear to perform eccentric motion through the eccentric sleeve, and the cycloidal gear meshes with the needle wheel, thereby transmitting the motion to the output shaft to achieve deceleration.

Planetary reducer: composed of sun gear, planetary gear, planetary carrier, and outer gear ring. The sun gear is located at the center, and the planet gears revolve around the sun gear and rotate on their own, while meshing with the outer gear ring. Power is input from the sun gear and transmitted to the planet carrier for output, achieving deceleration.

Performance characteristics

gear ratio

Cycloid pinwheel reducer: The single-stage transmission ratio is generally between 9-87, the two-stage transmission ratio is 121-5133, and the multi-stage combination can reach tens of thousands.

Planetary reducer: The single-stage reduction ratio is generally between 3-10, commonly 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, and 10. The number of reducer stages generally does not exceed 3, but some customized reducers with large reduction ratios have 4 stages of reduction.

transmission efficiency

Cycloid pinwheel reducer: The transmission efficiency is generally above 90%.

Planetary gearbox: The single-stage transmission efficiency can reach 97% -98%.

bearing capacity

Cycloid pinwheel reducer: generally suitable for small and medium power transmission, with relatively low load-bearing capacity.

Planetary gearbox: usually has higher load-bearing capacity and durability, suitable for high torque output applications.

accuracy

Cycloid pinwheel reducer: High speed ratio accuracy can also be maintained within 1 arc minute.

Planetary reducer: Single stage can achieve within 1 arc minute, but the overall accuracy may be slightly lower compared to cycloidal pinwheel reducer at high speed ratios.

noise

Cycloid pinwheel reducer: Cycloid pinwheel has a large number of meshing teeth, a high overlap coefficient, and low vibration and noise.

Planetary gearbox: Multiple gears meshing may produce certain noise and vibration.

Application scenarios

Cycloid pinwheel reducer: suitable for applications that require larger reduction ratios and smaller volumes, such as small automation equipment, precision machinery, chemical, food and other equipment fields.

Planetary gearbox: commonly used in applications that require high torque output, precise speed control, and high rigidity, such as industrial robots, wind turbines, hydro generators, precision machining equipment, lifting machinery, excavation machinery, construction machinery, etc.

Manufacturing cost and maintenance

Manufacturing cost

Cycloid pinwheel reducer: The structure is relatively simple, the manufacturing process is relatively easy, and the cost is relatively low.

Planetary gearbox: It requires high materials and manufacturing processes, and the manufacturing cost is relatively high.