Global human population is rising at a rate of about 1.1% a year and urban centers, which receive the bulk of that growth, are reaching the limits of what today’s technologies and organizational structures can deal with. Seventy percent of climate-changing emissions come from cities, and traffic congestion is reaching intolerable levels.

Public transportation, robots and electric vehicles will all play a role in the solution, but EDAG Group, a leading global, independent engineering services provider, is approaching it holistically, integrating many previously siloed systems into a single, integrated “smart city” ecosystem that’s cleaner, safer, more efficient and more connected.

To drive the robots at the center of that ecosystem, EDAG is relying on customized DriveSpin® actuators from SPINEA. Here’s how it works:

At the center of the EDAG solution is a networked fleet of modular robots capable of performing autonomously the various services that city living requires like trash disposal, gardening, transport, deliveries, street cleaning and much more. EDAG CityBots will operate around the clock in defined areas where private vehicles, other than bicycles, will no longer be allowed. Software-optimized traffic flow will reduce pollution and stress, so the people who live and work there can enjoy increased comfort, mobility, and safety.

The modular EDAG CityBot system relies on a single, electrical-powered tractor that, by adding various attachments, can be used in a nearly infinite number of ways. “The idea is to create a constant traffic flow throughout the city,” says Josef Strohbach, territory sales manager at SPINEA. When a tractor finishes one task, it will change over to another module and do something else. While some tasks must be completed during the day, others can be done at night, thereby evening out the flow of traffic.

The SPINEA team is working with EDAG Group to deliver DriveSpin actuators for the tractor’s electric wheel hub motors, providing efficient, all-wheel steering that allows it to move each wheel independently drive forward, backward, up, down and sideways.

Unlimited use cases. One common SPINEA solution.

“Only a few products in the world could meet the space constraints and torque density requirements for this application,” says Strohbach. To fit in the space envelope, the actuators must be as small and flat as possible, while carrying the torque required for the tractor to be able to steer accurately in whatever situation it encounters.

DriveSpin actuators combine SPINEA’s TwinSpin® reduction gear with an AC servomotor. “It’s not typical for a gearbox to work continuously, but our cycloidal gears are ideal for the 24/7 nature of EDAG CityBot work,” he says.

When the EDAG team approached SPINEA, they were working on a short timeline, and SPINEA’s standard actuator fit the specifications with application-tailored modifications. “The modularity of our DriveSpin actuators makes for quick development,” says Strohbach. “Our team was able to react and respond quickly to customize for the customer.”

Shaping the future of the world’s cities

EDAG Group has been testing the CityBot ecosystem at its facility in Fulda, Germany and is moving to the next stage, testing a larger system in the living laboratory “Campus Free City” of Frankfurt’s Deutsche Bank Park stadium, funded by the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport. There, EDAG CityBots will perform everything from transporting mobility-restricted visitors to watering trees to keeping beer booths supplied.

EDAG is in discussions with airports and cities around the world to integrate the EDAG CityBot ecosystem into their local infrastructure. This is a completely new technology and application for transport and for SPINEA. The entire SPINEA team is very happy to be involved in this process at such an early stage – and to help shape the future of mobility and the world’s cities.

Resonance has several definitions. From a physical perspective it is a simultaneous oscillation caused by waves tuned to the same period impinging on a body or the ability of a body to oscillate to the same frequency as the source.

Another definition again states that resonance is the tendency of a system to oscillate at a greater amplitude, at some frequencies more than others. These frequencies are known as resonant frequencies. At resonant frequencies, even small periodic forces can cause large amplitudes of oscillation because the system stores the energy of the oscillation.

First, let’s explain what oscillation is. If not affected by external forces, any rigid body remains stationary in space. By adding external energy, the body gains kinetic energy in space, which gives it the moment of momentum. If a body were placed in a vacuum without the influence of gravity, then that body could move practically to the end of the universe (both spatially and temporally). Since we do not encounter many such bodies in our ordinary life, we will deal with conditions close to us. We will consider a body that interacts with its environment. In this case, we can say that if we apply a short pulse of energy to a body at rest, this body will deflect from its stable position, which we call the zero point. Due to gravity, damping, and other physical actions, the body attempts to return back to its original position where it was energetically balanced at zero.

Fig. 1 – Sinusoidal oscillation

Three basic quantities define the frequency and amplitude of oscillation of anybody or system of bodies. Mass, elasticity/rigidity, and damping coefficient. The mass and elasticity are determined by the shape and material of the body and remain constant under standard conditions. The damping coefficient also depends on the interaction of the body with its environment and can vary over time. This variation is reflected in the time required to damp the oscillation of the system.

Fig. 2 – Time profile of damped oscillation

What happens if we add a fourth member to the system in the form of an oscillation generator (resonator)?

As mentioned at the beginning of the article, the system stores the energy of oscillation. Therefore, if the frequency of the system and the resonator are in frequency and phase harmony, the resonance of the system will occur and this will be reflected in an increase of the amplitude of the oscillation while maintaining the frequency. This phenomenon is particularly undesirable and dangerous because in some cases it can lead to total destruction of the system. Perhaps the most known case of destruction due to resonance is the collapse of the Tacoma Bridge in November 1940.

Fig. 3 – Time profile of resonant oscillation

Resonance is a desirable phenomenon in some industries, such as music, watchmaking, laser equipment, etc., but in engineering and automation, it is totally undesirable. Applications that are mainly based on precision and repeatability of motion would be unusable if resonance were to occur. Therefore, the resonance characteristics of the application, as well as the actuators (drives) used, must be taken into account when designing the individual components and the final assembly. For this reason, so-called modal analyses have to be carried out. These allow us to detect, at an early stage of the design process, the possible risks associated with the resonance of individual components or even of the entire system.

Fig. 4 – Example of natural frequency analysis

As an example, we can take the design of an industrial robot. The results of the modal analysis showed that the first modal, or natural frequency, is at 59Hz. This implies that the actuator speed should not reach 3540 rpm. The conclusion for the manufacturer of this robot is to either change the design or limit the output speed of the actuator if they want to avoid resonance and thus avoid the risk of permanent damage, even destruction of the robot.

In today’s era full of sophisticated IT analytical tools, it is therefore highly recommended to use their potential already during development and thus avoid complications in the later phase of production and operation of such devices.

This rule is also followed by the Slovak company SPINEA®, which uses these systems when designing its own products. It also offers this option to its customers and partners during the early stages of device development. The analyses concern both the individual components and the resulting whole. They contribute significantly to the improvement of the final product, the operational characteristics, and the overall durability of the customer’s equipment by their high evaluative value.

Micromech is proud to supply the full range of SPINEA TwinSpin® high-precision reduction gears, engineered for compact, backlash-free motion with high torque and exceptional rigidity. With an integrated cycloidal drive and built-in radial-axial bearings, these gearboxes simplify machine design while delivering precise, reliable performance.

TwinSpin® Series

T-Series – Cylindrical High-Precision Units
Offers a broad range of high-precision reduction gears in a compact cylindrical housing.

E-Series – Flange-Style High-Precision Units
Covers a broad range of high-precision reduction gears in a compact flange-shaped housing.

H-Series – Hollow-Shaft High-Precision Units
Offers a range of high-precision reduction gears with a hollow-shaft design, allowing cables, tubes, or shafts to pass through the unit.

G-Series – Next-Generation High-Precision Units
A new series of high-precision reduction gears featuring an innovative main bearing design and the proven TwinSpin® reduction principle.

M-Series – Miniature High-Precision Units
Represents a range of compact, high-precision reduction gears in mini sizes.

Applications

TwinSpin® gearboxes are widely used in:

• Robotics and automation systems
• CNC machine tools and rotary stages
• Medical, imaging, and laboratory equipment
• Aerospace and defence systems
• Packaging, printing, and material-handling machinery

Why Choose Micromech?

As the UK distributor for SPINEA, Micromech offers:

• Full access to the TwinSpin® range

• Technical support for sizing, selection, and integration

• Fast lead times and UK-based service

Contact Micromech today to discuss your project or request a quotation.

Wide Range of Precision Gears

The W Series offers a broad selection of TwinSpin® high precision reduction gears for industrial applications. Inside, each unit features a compact cylindrical case housing a precise reduction mechanism combined with strong radial and axial cylindrical roller bearings. Together, they ensure durability and high load capacity.

Direct Load Mounting

Importantly, this design lets you mount the load directly on the output flange or casing. Therefore, you don’t need extra bearings. This setup reduces system complexity and saves space. Additionally, it improves rigidity and extends the gear’s lifespan.

Modular and Flexible Design

Thanks to its modular design, you can easily connect various motor types using a motor connection flange. This means you can fit the gear into existing or new machinery with ease. Moreover, it makes customisation simple.

Sealing Options

Some W Series models are not fully sealed. As a result, you must use an inlet flange and gasket kit for proper sealing. However, SPINEA® supplies fully sealed versions on request. These come with flanges matched to your motor, offering extra protection against dust and moisture.

Reliable and Compact Solution

Overall, the W Series combines precision, strength, and flexibility in a compact package. Whether you are upgrading equipment or building new machinery, these reduction gears deliver reliable, high-performance results.

SPINEA High Precision Gearheads – Expert Support from Micromech

As an official SPINEA sales partner, our Applications Engineers are fully trained and equipped to specify and support the complete range of SPINEA high precision gearheads. Whether you’re developing a new system or upgrading existing machinery, we can help you determine the ideal solution for your application.

If you have a project that could benefit from the accuracy, compactness, and performance of SPINEA gearheads, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

For technical support or detailed product information, please contact us.

The majority of TwinSpin® gearbox applications run at ambient temperatures typical for industrial environments ranging from 10 up to 30 °C. But still, there are some applications that operate at lower temperatures, sometimes at extreme ones.

All gear equipment has functional limits when it comes to operating temperatures. Very often the spotlight is placed on high temperatures, less common is the focus placed on the low ones.

The majority of TwinSpin® gearbox applications run at ambient temperatures typical for industrial environments ranging from 10 up to 30 °C. But still, there are some applications that operate at lower temperatures, sometimes at extreme ones. A typical application area where lower temperatures are present is the food industry where in particular meat, fish, and dairy products require processing temperatures close to, or in some cases below 0 °C. Another type of low-temperature application is outdoor or high-altitude environments where temperatures can go as low as – 50 °C.

Oil or grease?

The choice of lubricant depends on the application type and the lowest temperature reached in the ambient.

The preferred choice when it comes to low-temperature applications is grease, usually special products designed for use in cold environments. In the food industry where the operating temperature is around zero oil is also used but with a lower ISO viscosity grade than standard grade 150.

Friction at low temperatures

The most desired property of a low-temperature lubricant is to allow proper lubrication and the lowest starting torque and no-load running torque possible. There is a big difference in friction torque magnitude in lubricants designed specifically for cold environments and standard ones, even if the technical specification states that it can withstand quite low sub-zero temperatures.

On the following charts, there are results presented of the test performed with a standard grease and with dedicated low-temperature grease.

The temperature limit of standard grease was -35 °C and low-temperature grease was – 60 °C.

As seen in the graphs above, the low temperature has an effect on static friction and also on viscous friction in the TwinSpin® gearbox. The difference in friction torque is significant even at zero Celsius where viscous friction of standard lubricant is more than triple the value of low-temperature lubricant.

Conclusion

It is important to always consider ambient temperature for each application. As you have seen on the above charts even temperatures around zero can influence friction torque in reducer and consequently the design of motion system. Depending on the application, designers should consider temperature influence and increased friction torque when selecting suitable servo drive, also in the cases when the temperature is low only for part of the working cycle until reducer is heated, or if the low temperature is acting only for a certain period of time, for example, if reducer working area is not heated during winter. Should you have further questions concerning the performance of TwinSpin® high precision gearboxes at low temperatures contact us.

Consistent diagnosis of defects in equipment components in the transportation and aerospace industries will increase reliability and safety for users. In such production lines, SPINEA’s products are of great use, thus contributing directly to the safety of cars and aircraft.

The foundation of any society’s long-term stability is its ability to see beyond its current capabilities. A typical expression that is often used today in connection with the success and stability of a successful company is the popular word authentic. It has its roots in English and refers to a view that consists of two meanings OUT and END, which can also be translated to mean seeing beyond the horizon of current limits.

… has a temporal meaning in the sense of seeing the past but also the future to come and to prepare products and services.

… also has a micro-spatial meaning, in the depth of space, structure, and micro dimensions, in the sense of seeing what is not visible to the naked eye. The word authentic translates as plausible, original permanent, especially in terms of structure, which does not change in the sense of surface and depth but also in the sense of permanence of properties over time.

This trend is the reason for the development of optoelectronic devices, which have dominated the industry for many decades. These opto-electronic measuring devices have formed the basis for other companies’ component inspection, ensuring the reliability and safety of the equipment used by a wide range of clients and the subsequent authenticity of the products.

One group of such devices are the optoelectronic devices of X-ray technology companies, or popularly known as X-ray machines. These devices were developed in the medical industry and currently have applications in the in-depth analysis of non-destructive testing of materials, where primarily invisible defects in materials are analysed.

The principle of diagnosis of defects implements the same principle as that of the X-ray image in medical examinations. All parts of the imaged object are presented in a transparent form where deviations from the defect-free state can be analysed.

X-ray analysis in the generic sense is widespread not only in medicine but also in other industries. It helps in the study of the macroworld, tracking invisible space objects, environmental imaging of the marine environment, but also in the study of the micro-world by tracking energetic collisions and the interpretation of quantum particles in fusion itself, in lithography, in microscopes, in airports for baggage analysis and in other new scientific and technological directions.

The existing advent of component minimization of machine parts, 3D printing of metal components, but also intensive material saving has created a marketing basis for rigorous X-ray analysis of components. Currently, only the outer surface and shape of the component is scanned. The future is open for dynamic inspection of the internal structure of the component. X-ray scanning can be recorded in 2D or 3D form. For the 3D form of the X-ray image, a smooth rotation is required with minimum fluctuation of the transmission error, minimum vibration which provides this rotation. A high load-bearing capacity of the positioning table is also required, minimum weight with minimum stop dimensions.

SPINEA® products fulfilled exactly these characteristics. SPINEA® has been supplying its reducers to the optoelectronics industry for many years with no reservations about quality.

Potential lack of rotational smoothness, which would manifest itself in gear system errors, or the generation of vibrations during rotation would cause deficiencies in sensing micro-cracks within the material. Some cracks might not be identified and some would be imaged by deformed shape or size. Therefore, the choice and quality of the reducer are important in the design of these machines.

The advantage of SPINEA® TwinSpin® high-precision reduction gearboxes is their extreme compactness formed by bearing raceways directly in the reducer body. This compactness and high load capacity result in better use of machine space and the possibility of larger weights and dimensions of the tested product. Elimination of vibrations is achieved by the ideal balancing of the reducer and also by the application of only rolling friction inside the reducer. Rolling friction is achieved by integrating the rollers directly into the gear mechanism. The high gear ratios allow the use of smaller servo-drives, thus reducing the space and operating costs for component rotation. Equally important is the high rigidity of the TwinSpin® reducer and its stable parameters throughout its service life.

Consistent diagnosis of defects in equipment components in the transportation and aerospace industries will increase reliability and safety for users. In such production lines, SPINEA’s products are of great use, thus contributing directly to the safety of cars and aircraft.

SPINEA® is open to new solutions and integrations. Its product portfolio includes a wide range of reducers from the extremely small TS 50 size with an axial load capacity of 190 kg, to the large TS 335 with an axial load capacity of 10,600 kg, which can be used to ensure precise and smooth rotation in these plants.

The TwinSpin® high-precision backlash-free cycloidal reduction gearboxes manufactured by SPINEA® are among the world market leaders.

The individual components of gearboxes are manufactured to extremely high precision, but there is always some dimensional variance in series production. Parameters have been introduced to specify the accuracy of the gearboxes:

• Lost motion (LM) is an important parameter in high-precision gearboxes. It is the angular deviation between the input part (shaft) and the output part (output flange) under load. This deviation represents the sum of all dimensional and geometric inaccuracies arising during manufacturing and the flexibility of the gearbox components. This deviation affects the resulting accuracy of the assembly at the customer’s site.
• H – Hysteresis is the second important parameter in high precision bearing reducers. This parameter expresses the degree of internal resistance in the gearbox.
  SPINEA® measures H and LM parameters on all gearboxes going to customers on highly accurate, specialized stands, according to a standard and unified methodology. This measurement guarantees the customer that the parameters are in line with the requirements.

Based on the individual matching of components in the gearbox, we can offer the customer, in addition to the standard parameters described in the catalogue, also customized parameters.

The following should be considered when selecting a gearbox:

1. If the application requires higher precision and therefore LM lower than standard/catalogue, then the gear is steamed with more micro-precision of the individual components. The gearbox duty cycle must account for this condition. Such a gearbox must operate in pause or low input speed cycles.
2. If the application requires a higher input speed or continuous operation, then it is advisable to select a gearbox with a higher LM. After a short break-in period, overlaps between components will be optimal, wear will be minimized and the gearbox will retain high accuracy and long life.

Therefore, when specifying a gearbox, it is very important to balance the duty cycle requirements and the resulting desired accuracy from the outset. When selecting and optimizing a high-precision gearbox, we recommend working with specialists in the sales department.

If the customer wishes to perform a check measurement of the LM and H parameters, this measurement is possible provided that the front end is at a temperature of 20 °C – 25 °C and the standard methodology for measuring the relevant parameter is followed. If these basic conditions are not met, it is not possible to declare the customer’s measurement as identical to the measurements made at SPINEA®.

Gone are the times when doctors carried all the medical tools with themselves in one bag. Nowadays, health care equipment is a mixture of the latest technology from the fields of physics, electronics, software, and mechanics. Modern scanning and imagining devices allow physicians to diagnose and to see inside of their patients in ways unimaginable just 50 years ago and a growing number of various mechatronic and robotic devices help to perform surgery and other medical treatments. All these marvellous health care devices must fulfil strict requirements from safety, but also the reliability point of view, with some types of machines, also requiring precision movement and positioning, without compromising the former. TwinSpin® gearboxes are used in various medical applications and in the following lines we would like to outline the benefits provided by our gear technology.

Robust design and overload capacity

As mentioned earlier, the safety of the patient and health care staff is one of the most important features of a medical device. Any potential risk of injury or accident must be prevented at any cost, therefore for this reason critical components on the rotating axis with close proximity to the human or which are moving patient, must be robust and designed for very high overload. Overload factor 6 times of nominal load and even more is required and tested.

TwinSpin® reduction gear withstands several thousand load peaks at 5x times of rated torque without loss of function or precision. To find the gearbox structural limit we tested G series reduction gear, size TS 115 ratio 43 with static torque overload. The Rated torque of the gearbox is 173 Nm and the emergency torque of 5x is 865 Nm. With the applied sensor we loaded the output shaft of the gear and checked for hysteresis curve discontinuity which occurred at 2 700 Nm of load torque. In the next step, we tested the main bearing with tilting moment overload. The maximum bending moment of TS 115 is 560 Nm, so as with torque overload we applied tilting moment overload. The loading went up to 3200 Nm of tilting moment when plastic deformation of bolts started to be visible and the test was interrupted.

The important observation from both overload tests was that the reduction gear did not disintegrate into separate parts and have kept the internal components together. That means, when a very high safety factor is required, instead of using oversized components which do not have high overload capacity, TwinSpin® reduction gear can be used.

Noise and vibrations

The next important parameter of the reduction gear used for medical applications is its smooth movement without high vibrations and low noise production. TwinSpin® high precision gearboxes are single-stage reduction gears and in standard, solid shaft version no additional pre-stage is used. In the hollow shaft version, either a spur gear pre-stage or a timing belt with pulley are used. To secure a smooth movement of the output, low torsional vibrations are desirable. Vibration amplitude depends on the size of the gearbox, the quality of machined components, but to some degree, it also depends on the type of the reduction principle. In general, TwinSpin® reduction gears have low torsional vibrations. In the picture below there is an example of torsional vibration measurement. Amplitude is evaluated in micrometers and with maximum input speed up to 1500 rpm. The picture shows the measurement of torsional vibration of hollow shaft gearbox size TS 115 GH, ratio 123.

Smooth and vibration-free movement is required in imagining and scanning devices where the resulting picture of scanned body parts must be sharp and focused.

High output torque in small diameter

In devices where design space is constrained (and the medical applications often are the case), high output torque

in a compact design envelope is appreciated. If we consider reducers up to a diameter of 120mm, SPINEA® offers a broad portfolio of solid and hollow shaft solutions. Big hollow diameter in combination with high rated torque values of GH series reduction gears provides a potential for compact and reliable medical machine solutions.

The lower ratio for low back-driving torque and high efficiency

In some applications where various parts of the machine need positioning with hand, lower ratios with low values of back-driving torque can be interesting. Of course, back-driving torque magnitude depends on more factors than is the ratio, but the ratio is the main one in the TwinSpin® gearbox. The next picture demonstrates the measurement of back-driving torque of size TS 125 GH with a ratio of 49. The Rated torque of TS 125 GH is 180 Nm and acceleration torque is 450 Nm. The gearbox is fully sealed.

Each medical application has different requirements put on motion equipment it uses. On the previous lines, we wanted to point out a few technical features of TwinSpin® reduction gears, which may be interesting for designers of medical equipment.

Gone are the times when doctors carried all the medical tools with themselves in one bag. Nowadays, health care equipment is a mixture of the latest technology from the fields of physics, electronics, software, and mechanics. Modern scanning and imagining devices allow physicians to diagnose and to see inside of their patients in ways unimaginable just 50 years ago and a growing number of various mechatronic and robotic devices help to perform surgery and other medical treatments. All these marvellous health care devices must fulfil strict requirements from safety, but also the reliability point of view, with some types of machines, also requiring precision movement and positioning, without compromising the former. TwinSpin® gearboxes are used in various medical applications and in the following lines we would like to outline the benefits provided by our gear technology.

Robust design and overload capacity

As mentioned earlier, the safety of the patient and health care staff is one of the most important features of a medical device. Any potential risk of injury or accident must be prevented at any cost, therefore for this reason critical components on the rotating axis with close proximity to the human or which are moving patient, must be robust and designed for very high overload. Overload factor 6 times of nominal load and even more is required and tested.

TwinSpin® reduction gear withstands several thousand load peaks at 5x times of rated torque without loss of function or precision. To find the gearbox structural limit we tested G series reduction gear, size TS 115 ratio 43 with static torque overload. The Rated torque of the gearbox is 173 Nm and the emergency torque of 5x is 865 Nm. With the applied sensor we loaded the output shaft of the gear and checked for hysteresis curve discontinuity which occurred at 2 700 Nm of load torque. In the next step, we tested the main bearing with tilting moment overload. The maximum bending moment of TS 115 is 560 Nm, so as with torque overload we applied tilting moment overload. The loading went up to 3200 Nm of tilting moment when plastic deformation of bolts started to be visible and the test was interrupted.

The important observation from both overload tests was that the reduction gear did not disintegrate into separate parts and have kept the internal components together. That means, when a very high safety factor is required, instead of using oversized components which do not have high overload capacity, TwinSpin® reduction gear can be used.

Noise and vibrations

The next important parameter of the reduction gear used for medical applications is its smooth movement without high vibrations and low noise production. TwinSpin® high precision gearboxes are single-stage reduction gears and in standard, solid shaft version no additional pre-stage is used. In the hollow shaft version, either a spur gear pre-stage or a timing belt with pulley are used. To secure a smooth movement of the output, low torsional vibrations are desirable. Vibration amplitude depends on the size of the gearbox, the quality of machined components, but to some degree, it also depends on the type of the reduction principle. In general, TwinSpin® reduction gears have low torsional vibrations. In the picture below there is an example of torsional vibration measurement. Amplitude is evaluated in micrometers and with maximum input speed up to 1500 rpm. The picture shows the measurement of torsional vibration of hollow shaft gearbox size TS 115 GH, ratio 123.

Smooth and vibration-free movement is required in imagining and scanning devices where the resulting picture of scanned body parts must be sharp and focused.

High output torque in small diameter

In devices where design space is constrained (and the medical applications often are the case), high output torque

in a compact design envelope is appreciated. If we consider reducers up to a diameter of 120mm, SPINEA® offers a broad portfolio of solid and hollow shaft solutions. Big hollow diameter in combination with high rated torque values of GH series reduction gears provides a potential for compact and reliable medical machine solutions.

The lower ratio for low back-driving torque and high efficiency

In some applications where various parts of the machine need positioning with hand, lower ratios with low values of back-driving torque can be interesting. Of course, back-driving torque magnitude depends on more factors than is the ratio, but the ratio is the main one in the TwinSpin® gearbox. The next picture demonstrates the measurement of back-driving torque of size TS 125 GH with a ratio of 49. The Rated torque of TS 125 GH is 180 Nm and acceleration torque is 450 Nm. The gearbox is fully sealed.

Each medical application has different requirements put on motion equipment it uses. On the previous lines, we wanted to point out a few technical features of TwinSpin® reduction gears, which may be interesting for designers of medical equipment.

Digital solutions have introduced significant changes in the manufacturing process of dental prostheses. Traditional techniques of manufacturing crowns, bridges, implants, or complete dentures have been replaced by CAD / CAM technologies. These technologies applied together with intraoral scanners and dental milling machines of small installation dimensions, enable the transfer of dental prostheses production from dental laboratories directly to dental offices. The process has become more simple, faster, and efficient. The patient can get a dental crown or bridge on the same day he comes to the dental office.

A scanner scans the teeth and creates a digital 3D impression. The CAD system processes it and, based on a comparison to the surrounding teeth, generates a proposal for a dental prosthesis, which can be then modified by a dentist or laboratory technician as needed. Subsequently, the CAD / CAM system sends instructions for the production of a dental prosthesis to a computer-controlled milling machine.

Dental prostheses made through CAD / CAM technologies have high durability and a natural appearance. They achieve high surface quality and fit well thanks to high precision scanning and production on modern dental milling machines (DMM).

The final quality of the dental prostheses and the efficiency of the production process significantly depend on the milling machine used, its construction, and components.

One of the key components influencing the basic features of dental milling machines are gearboxes in the rotary axes A and B used to position the table with the dental blank. The quality of the machined surface, the accuracy of production, thus whether the dental prosthesis will fit the patient well, but also the productivity of the machine and the time for which the machine can produce the dental prosthesis will depend on the type of gearbox used.

SPINEA® offers an ideal solution for DMM with TwinSpin® cycloidal gearboxes, which meet all requirements for positioning in the A and B axes and currently represent the best solution on the market in terms of accuracy, rigidity, torque capacity, and installation dimensions.

TwinSpin® gearboxes belong to the category of backlash-free gearboxes, which provide high positioning accuracy essential for the overall accuracy of dental prosthesis production. Thanks to the unique transmission mechanism, high production accuracy, and the use of high-quality lubricants, TwinSpin ® gears keep high positioning accuracy throughout their service life, thus ensuring the long-term quality and accuracy of DMM in which they are used.

Another very important feature of TwinSpin® gearboxes is high torsional and tilting rigidity, which are the key to the quality of the machined surface of dental prostheses. The high rigidity of SPINEA® gears enables higher machining speeds while maintaining excellent surface quality. Therefore, DMM with SPINEA® reduction gears achieves higher productivity and surface quality than machines with other gear mechanisms. High rigidity also allows for the processing of stronger and more durable materials of dental prostheses.

Minimization of machine dimensions represents one of the latest trends in DMM development. SPINEA® gearboxes have high torque density, i.e. the ratio of the rated torque to its dimensions [Nm / cm3]. Compared to, for example, harmonic gear mechanism, SPINEA® offers the gearboxes with more than double the parameter, which allows the machine to use significantly smaller size while maintaining power and thus minimize the machine dimensions, or use similar dimensions and thus increase the power of the drive unit. In addition, SPINEA®also offers DriveSpin® actuators, drive units that combine a servomotor and a precision TwinSpin® gear mechanism into a single compact unit of small dimensions, which simplifies the installation of the drive unit and allows an even higher degree of installation dimensions minimizing.

High overload capacity represents another great feature of TwinSpin®. It is expressed by emergency torque, which is five times the nominal torque value and is reflected in the machine’s high reliability and resistance to potential damage, for example, due to incorrect machine operation.

TwinSpin ® high-precision reduction gears meet all requirements of current trends in the development of DMM. They represent the most ideal solution for the gear mechanism of the rotary axis in 5 axes dental milling machines and successfully replace previously used harmonic and planetary gearboxes.

The high-precision TwinSpin® T-series gearboxes have been successfully integrated into the joysticks of special flight simulators. A specific reverse torque value and constant oscillation are the main parameters for this application, ensuring a stable perception of the pilots in the flight simulation. The reverse drive torque at the output of the reduction gearbox is provided by the rotation of the integrated encoder at the input.

Stable perception of the joystick by the pilot is one of the most important abilities in the learning process and subsequently in the pilots’ practice, which the pilot must possess to ensure safe piloting. It is part of the process of learning to fly and then actually piloting the aircraft, where even any error can cost human lives. That is why the TwinSpin® high-precision reduction gearboxes from SPINEA® are effectively modifiable thanks to a unique principle based exclusively on rolling friction in the gear mechanism and integrated bearings. Despite the fact that these are borderline requirements for technical properties, the company is able to ensure that the impact on the final product price is minimal.