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3D printed high torque servo/gearbox Version 2

An almost completely 3D-printed servo which is able to pull a car forwards.

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This servo/gearbox is the new and improved version of my original gearbox design (video can be found here: https://youtu.be/8sq4pHdSXYM). The original one had a gear ratio of 30:1 and the speed of the output shaft was about 715 RPM which made it difficult to tune in the right PID parameters. This new version has a gear ratio of about 162:1 which lowers the speed and increases the torque of the output shaft.

This servo/gearbox is the new and improved version of my original gearbox design. The original one (project can be found here: https://hackaday.io/project/162855-3d-printable-high-torque-servogear-reduction) had a gear ratio of 30:1 and the speed of the output shaft was about 715 RPM which made it difficult to tune in the right PID parameters. This new version has a gear ratio of about 162:1 which lowers the speed of the output shaft to about 60RPM and increases the torque to around 297kg*cm. 

I choose to go for double helical gears on this one because they produce a lot less noise than regular spur gears and the forces on the teeth are transferred more gradually. The gears rotate around a 6mm stainless steel shaft which is lubricated with bearing grease. Ideally all the gears should have some bearings, this is being considered for the next moment because when the servo runs for a few moments the gears in the first stage can heat up pretty quick to around 30 degrees celsius. Unlike my previous design I used 2 20mm bearings to support the output shaft.

This servo was designed using Autodesk Fusion 360. I used these 2 plugins to create the bevel and double helical gears, one is 40 dollars but well worth it's money: 

- https://apps.autodesk.com/FUSION/en/Detail/Index?id=2427789559362467821&appLang=en&os=Win64
- https://apps.autodesk.com/FUSION/en/Detail/Index?id=9029586664984391977&appLang=en&os=Win64

The servo uses a 775 36V 9000rpm brushed DC-motor which is driven by my Universal Motion Controller (UMC, project can be found here: https://hackaday.io/project/170604-umc-universal-motion-controller). The stall torque theoretically is about 297kg*cm, I was able to test the servo to a torque of about 132kg*cm. 

During testing none of the gears broke, they were all printed in PLA with an Anet E12 and a Reprap Prusa I3. The weak link in this design however where the mounting tabs and the bevel gears used in the first stage on the motor shaft. These 2 gears in the first stage tend to slip under high loads ,like when i tried to pull the car forwards with it's handbrake on, but this didn't occur when i performed the test where it pulled 132kg*cm of torque so it should be fine to at least this torque rating.

Gears used to reach a 162:1 gear ratio:

- Gear 1: Bevel gear -> 15 teeth , Module 1
- Gear 2: Bevel / Double helical gear -> 60/13 teeth , Module 1 / 1.5
- Gear 3: Double helical gear -> 39/13 teeth , Module 1.5
- Gear 4: Double helical gear -> 39/13 teeth , Module 1.5
- Gear 5: Double helical gear -> 39/18 teeth , Module 1.5 / 2
- Gear 6: Double helical gear -> 27 teeth , Module 2

Additional parameters used:

- Gear type: radial system
- Helix angle: 30 deg
- Pressure angle: 20 deg
- Backlash: 0.2mm

STL and Fusion 360 source files can be found here: https://bbprojects.technology/collections/stl-fusion-360-source-files/products/3d-printable-high-torque-servo-gearbox-version-2-files

Video: 

3D printable high torque servo-gearbox Version 2 20mm shaft.pdf

dimensions and hole placement for the 20mm shaft

Adobe Portable Document Format - 177.20 kB - 07/20/2020 at 15:55

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    Instructions on how to build this servo can be found in the youtube video: 

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KD9KCK wrote 08/13/2020 at 23:51 point

I might print up two of these for use in a Satnogs Rotor.

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jiyang wrote 07/21/2020 at 01:38 point

Why is the gear obtuse angle?

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Brian Brocken wrote 07/21/2020 at 15:45 point

Hello jiyang, I choose to go for double helical gears on this one because they produce a lot less noice than regular spur gears and the forces on the teeth are transferred more gradually.

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Dan Maloney wrote 07/20/2020 at 19:53 point

What grease are you using on the PLA? I'd worry about chemical compatibility - wonder if anyone has done any studies...

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Tom Nardi wrote 07/21/2020 at 05:23 point

I'm not sure if there's a study, but the advice I've always seen has been either white lithium or Vaseline for PLA gears.

I've used whilte lithium on PETG gears with good results, but that doesn't really say much for PLA.

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4419495

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EK wrote 07/21/2020 at 13:10 point

I saw a youtube video once where they used Burt's Bees lipbalm on 3D printed gears and it helped 🙃

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AVR wrote 10/22/2020 at 21:11 point

never heard of that, I am going to try this in the future!

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