In the 1950s, the rapid advancements in space science and technology imposed stricter demands on the traditional mechanical transmission systems of aviation equipment, particularly in instrumentation and control systems. The aviation industry urgently needed a new type of transmission system that could achieve a high transmission ratio, compact structure, small size, lightweight, high transmission accuracy, and even the ability to function precisely in sealed environments and high vacuum conditions. Under these circumstances, in 1947, the Soviet engineer Oсквитин А. И. М first proposed the new transmission principle known as harmonic drive.
By 1959, American professor C.W. Musser obtained a patent for the invention of harmonic drive technologies and officially demonstrated the physical model in New York in 1960. He also publicly released detailed information about harmonic drive technology. This transmission system, compared to traditional transmission methods, offered numerous advantages such as simple structure, small size, high precision, high transmission ratio, strong load capacity, and zero backlash. The advent of this innovative transmission method immediately drew widespread attention from various countries, with scholars conducting extensive research on various aspects of this technology.
Reductor harmonic drive is a device that uses mechanical waves to force flexible components into harmonic motion to transmit movement. It mainly consists of three parts: the rigid gear, the flexible gear, and the wave generator, commonly referred to as the "three main components." The transmission is achieved through the periodic deformation of the flexible gear, which creates wave-like fluctuations that enable internal engagement between the teeth of the rigid gear and the flexible gear, thus completing the transmission of movement and power. Due to the minimal difference in the number of teeth between the internal and external gears, it is easy to achieve a high transmission ratio.
High transmission ratio
High transmission accuracy
Smooth motion and high transmission efficiency
Compact size and fewer components
Stable operation without impact
Minimal backlash
No welding phenomenon during the transmission process
Involute tooth profile
Common tangent double-arc tooth profile
Non-common tangent double-arc tooth profile
S-shaped tooth profile
And others
Due to its unique features, harmonic gear transmission technology by harmonic drive distributors has been widely applied across various fields. Here are some of harmonic drive applications scenarios:
Industrial Robots
6-axis spindle
SCARA robot spindle
Gantry robot harmonic drive arm
6-axis robot shoulder joint
6-axis robot base joint
6-axis robot wrist joint
SCARA robot elbow joint
Aerospace
Solar panel array drivers
Passenger aircraft position pick-up devices
Machine Tools
CNC rotary tables for machining centers
Workpiece loading robots for machining centers
Tool change devices for gantry milling machines
