HighForce Planetary Rack & Pinion Drive Systems

We are pleased to introduce our new range of HighForce Precision Planetary Rack & Pinion Drive Systems. There are three different planetary drive systems available, with helical or straight (spur) rack & pinions, to meet any application requirements.

HighForce ZTRS

For ultra-precise applications with thrust forces up to 28,000 lb., the HighForce ZTRS rack & pinion drive systems are very well suited. These drives, which are available in five sizes with backlash levels down to one arc-minute, can handle highly dynamic and heavy loads. They utilize precision planetary reducers with an integral output housing and outboard bearing to provide a rigid support of the output pinion.

By adding an output bearing housing, the tilting moment capacity of the flanged planetary reducer is dramatically increased. Also, the unique design of the pinion allows for smaller pitch diameters, which decreases the torque on the reducer. Because of these design enhancements, a smaller reducer can typically be used.

HighForce ZTR & ZR

For precise applications with thrust forces up to 12,000 lb., the HighForce ZTR and ZR rack & pinion drive systems are now available. These drives, which are available in seven sizes with backlash levels down to one arc-minute, are similar to the ZTRS drive systems but without the outboard bearing support.

The drive pinions are flange mounted to the reducer output, providing tight integration of the driven load, while allowing replacement of the pinion if needed.

For more economical and lighter duty applications with thrust forces up to 4,500 lb., planetary reducers with solid output shafts are also available for mounting bored pinions directly via keyways or compression couplings.

These drives are perfect for a wide range of applications, such as traveling gantries & columns, pick & place robots, machine tools, CNC routers and material handling systems. Zero backlash rack & pinion drive systems are also possible by using two reducers to share driving the load during acceleration while removing the axis backlash to ensure precise positioning. Applications for these systems can be found in the Material Handling, Automation, Aerospace, Woodworking, Machine Tool and Robotics industries.

System Precision
HighForce ZTRS System
Specifications
HighForce ZTR & ZR System
Specifications

The system accuracy, including the pitch error and backlash, can be found below:

System Precision Level:	Rack Type & Class:	Rack Quality Level:	Rack Pitch Error:	Rack & Pinion Minimum Backlash:*
High	Hardened & Ground (UHPR & HPR)	DIN 4 to 6 (~AGMA 12+)	< 0.012 to 0.036 mm per meter	0.02 mm

*The rack and pinion backlash depends on the alignment of the rack to the linear guides.

There are three levels of precision for the hardened & ground racks, with rack pitch error ranging from 0.012 mm to 0.036 mm per meter length depending on which rack is used. Follow this link for more information on our Precision Racks.

Our HighForce ZTR & ZR Rack & Pinion Drive Systems utilize our Precision Planetary Reducers with an ISO 9409-1 output flange to provide a rigid support for a hardened & ground helical pinion. This provides tight integration of the driven load while allowing replacement of the pinion if needed. These systems are available in seven sizes with backlash levels down to one arc-minute and ratios from 4:1 to 100:1.

The maximum drive force that each system can handle (with safety factor 1.0) is listed below; this should be compared to the application peak force, which can be calculated here, or by filling out our Application Sheet.

Please click on the table values for PDF specifications:

Reducer Size:	Rack & Pinion Module:	# of Pinion Teeth:	Maximum Drive Force:*	Maximum Linear Speed with 3,000 rpm Motor:
7	2	23	3,900 lb.	4,528 in/min
	2	29	4,200 lb.	5,709 in/min
	3	17	5,000 lb.	5,020 in/min
8	3	26	6,500 lb.	7.677 in/min
	3	32	6,600 lb.	9,449 in/min
	4	20	10,500 lb.	7,874 in/min
	5	16	10,000 lb.	7,874 in/min
9	5	20	13,100 lb.	3,281 in/min
	6	16	15,000 lb.	3,150 in/min
	6	20	17,600 lb.	3,937 in/min
	8	15	17,600 lb.	3,937 in/min
10	8	19	20,900 lb.	4,987 in/min
10	10	15	21,100 lb.	4,921 in/min
10+	8	19	27,800 lb.	4,987 in/min
10+	10	15	28,200 lb.	4,921 in/min

*Force ratings do not include any safety factors. Maximum drive forces vary depending on gearbox ratio selected.

Another method to remove the backlash at the rack & pinion is to use two motor/reducer assemblies with dual pinions operating on the same rack in a master/slave setup.

One pinion drives the axis (the "master") while the second pinion is "preloaded" to remove the backlash (the "slave"). The preload is created electronically with a special motor controller; these systems can also be set up to drive together during cycle times when backlash is not critical.

Our new HighForce Planetary Drives, which can handle highly dynamic and heavy loads, are perfect for these applications. These reducers have backlash levels down to one arc-minute and ratios from 4:1 to 100:1.

For dimensions, please click on the "Reducer Size" in the left column.

Reducer Size:	Rack & Pinion Module:	Pinion:	# of Pinion Teeth:	Maximum Drive Force:*	Maximum Linear Speed with 3,000 rpm Motor:
3	2	78.20.526	26	495 lb.	5,118 in/min
3	2	78.20.527	27	495 lb.	5,315 in/min
4	2	78.21.912	12	1,237 lb.	2,362 in/min
	2	78.21.916	16	1,237 lb.	3,150 in/min
	2	78.21.533	33	835 lb.	6,496 in/min
	2	78.20.536	36	765 lb.	7,087 in/min
	2	78.21.537	37	744 lb.	7,283 in/min
5	2	78.22.912	12	1,686 lb.	787 in/min
	2	78.22.919	19	1,686 lb.	1,247 in/min
	2	78.22.923	23	1,686 lb.	1,509 in/min
	2	78.22.540	40	1,686 lb.	2,625 in/min
	2	78.22.545	45	1,507 lb.	2,953 in/min
	3	78.32.912	12	1,686 lb.	1,181 in/min
	3	78.32.914	14	1,686 lb.	1,378 in/min
	3	78.30.530	30	1,507 lb.	2,953 in/min
7	2	78.23.912	12	3,147 lb.	1,509 in/min
	2	78.23.923	23	3,147 lb.	1,509 in/min
	2	78.23.929	29	3,147 lb.	1,903 in/min
	3	78.33.912	12	2,825 lb.	1,181 in/min
	3	78.33.916	16	3,597 lb.	1,575 in/min
	3	78.33.919	19	3,597 lb.	1,870 in/min
	3	78.33.535	35	2,825 lb.	3,445 in/min
	3	78.33.540	40	2,472 lb.	3,937 in/min
	4	78.43.912	12	3,597 lb.	1,575 in/min
	4	78.40.530	30	2,472 lb.	3,937 in/min
8	3	78.34.912	12	2,825 lb.	1,181 in/min
	3	78.34.919	19	5,725 lb.	1,870 in/min
	3	78.34.926	26	6,070 lb.	2,559 in/min
	3	78.34.932	32	6,070 lb.	3,150 in/min
	4	78.44.912	12	5,385 lb.	1,575 in/min
	4	78.44.917	17	6,295 lb.	2,231 in/min
	4	78.44.919	19	6,295 lb.	2,493 in/min
	4	78.44.520	20	6,295 lb.	2,625 in/min
	5	78.44.512	12	6,295 lb.	1,969 in/min
	5	78.44.516	16	6,295 lb.	2,625 in/min
	5	78.54.918	18	6,295 lb.	2,953 in/min
	6	78.64.912	12	6,295 lb.	2,362 in/min
	6	78.64.913	13	6,295 lb.	2,559 in/min
	6	78.64.915	15	6,295 lb.	2,953 in/min
9
	4	78.46.912	12	5,385 lb.	1,575 in/min
	4	78.46.919	19	10,594 lb.	2,493 in/min
	4	78.46.920	20	11,016 lb.	2,625 in/min
	5	78.56.914	14	8,476 lb.	2,297 in/min
	5	78.56.918	18	11,466 lb.	2,953 in/min
	5	78.56.919	19	11,466 lb.	3,117 in/min
	5	78.56.920	20	11,466 lb.	3,281 in/min
	6	78.66.912	12	8,829 lb.	2,362 in/min
	6	78.66.915	15	12,815 lb.	2,953 in/min
	6	78.66.916	16	12,815 lb.	3,150 in/min
10
	5	78.57.912	12	6,357 lb.	1,969 in/min
	5	78.57.919	19	12,815 lb.	3,117 in/min
	6	78.67.912	12	8,829 lb.	2,362 in/min
	6	78.67.916	16	12,815 lb.	3,150 in/min
	8	78.87.912	12	12,815 lb.	3,150 in/min
10+
	8	Please consult the factory!
	10
	12

* Force ratings do not include any safety factors. Higher forces are possible depending on gearbox ratio selected.