Discover how ATEK Drive Solutions optimizes your production processes with innovative lifting drives and opens up new opportunities.
What are the main advantages of spindle lifting drives for industrial applications?
Spindle lifting gearboxes offer a high load capacity for heavy components, allow for precise positioning in the micrometer range, and have an important self-locking function as well. In addition, they are durable and versatile.
When should I choose a trapezoidal screw and when should I choose a ball screw for my lifting gearbox?
Trapezoidal screws are robust, self-locking and more cost-effective for intermittent operation or lower speeds. Ball screws offer a higher efficiency (up to >80%), enable higher speeds and are better suited for long duty cycles, but often require an external brake.
How can synchronization be achieved with multiple lifting drives?
The synchronization of multiple lifting elements can be achieved mechanically through connection shafts and distribution gear units, which is considered particularly robust and fail-safe. Alternatively, electronic synchronization using encoders and a control system is possible, providing more flexibility. möglich, die mehr Flexibilität bietet.
What safety aspects are particularly important when using lifting drives?
Crucial are the avoidance of blocking movement through limit switches or torque limiters, the use of safety nuts (SFM) as a mechanical backup in case of nut wear, the use of appropriate brakes (especially in the absence of self-locking or vertical axes), and the protection of the screw from contamination through bellows or helical springs.
For which applications are cubic lifting gearboxes particularly well suited?
Cubic designs are ideal for the food industry due to their smooth, easy-to-clean surfaces and other hygiene-critical areas. Their all-around machining and fastening options also offer high flexibility in machine integration, for example in the machine tool construction.
What are fast lifting gearboxes and where are they used?
Fast lifting gearboxes are designed for dynamic and rapid adjustment movements, achieving speeds over 50 mm/s, often using ball screws and optimized lubrication. They are used, for example, for quick format adjustments in packaging systems, but they can lose self-locking,, making a hold brake necessary.
How does efficiency affect the selection of a lifting gearbox?
A higher efficiency leads to lower energy consumption, thus reducing operating costs. While standard trapezoidal screw drives achieve efficiencies of 25-35%, ball screws can reach up to 50% and special cone gear lifting gearboxes with ball screws can even achieve efficiencies of over 80% .
Does ATEK Drive Solutions also offer customized lifting gearbox solutions?
Yes, ATEK Drive Solutions specializes in customized special solutions for lifting gearboxes, even in small series. Thanks to a modular system,decades of experience, and a large stock of nearly 500,000 individual parts, individual drive requirements can be quickly and accurately implemented.
Lifting gearboxes enable precise linear movements for heavy loads, with trapezoidal screws providing self-locking and ball screws achieving high efficiencies of over 80%, which enhances system efficiency. ATEK Drive Solutions delivers modular lifting gearbox systems as a system provider
ATEK Drive Solutions liefert als Systemanbieter and develops , backed by decades of experience and a stock of nearly customized special solutionsfor quick availability and customized drive systems. 500,000 individual parts, für schnelle Verfügbarkeit und maßgeschneiderte Antriebsstränge.
The correct design of lifting drives,including safety features like SFM and consideration of duty cycle, is crucial for optimal performance and durability.. Efficiency improvements through ball screws can significantly reduce energy costs (e.g., over 5 kW savings at 10 kW drive power).Learn all about the various applications, technical details, and advantages of lifting gearboxes. Find the perfect solution for your individual requirements!
Are you looking for a reliable and efficient solution for linear movements? Lifting gearboxes from ATEK Drive Solutions offer you the highest precision and performance. Contact us at our contact page, to learn more!
Do you need a customized lifting gearbox solution for your application? We will be happy to advise you!
Request a customized solution now!
Understand: What lifting gearboxes do and how they are constructed.
ATEK Drive Solutions explains how Lifting gearboxes to precisely position heavy loads, enable complex motion sequences, and optimize production processes.
The function of lifting drives, in production
Spindle lifting gearboxes, as mechanical actuators, converts rotary motion into precise linear motion through a screw spindle. They lift ton-heavy components with micrometer accuracy. In automotive production, they position body parts with <0.1 mm repeat accuracy. Servo drives for lifting systems can increase precision.
Core components and functional principle
Ein Lifting gearboxes consist of: gear housing, worm shaft, worm gear, lifting spindle (trapezoidal/ball screw). The worm gear drives the spindle/nut, generating linear movement. The transmission allows for high axial forces (up to 2000 kN, e.g., MC200). Component tuning is crucial for lifespan. Details on worm gear drives.
Designs for specific requirements
Classic lifting gearboxes: mostly top-mounted; cubic: bottom-mounted. The cubic shape (smooth, easy to clean) is ideal for the food industry, meeting hygiene standards (e.g., stainless steel gearboxes). Application: packaging machines. Planetary gearboxes are also available.Differentiate: Utilize designs and functional variants optimally.
Classic and cubic designs: differences and advantages
Classic Lifting gearboxes (base flange) for top mounting. Cubic (machined on all sides, drilled holes) offer high flexibility in machine integration, often bottom-mounted (except with adapter bars). Machine tools use them for space-saving, stable drive integration. Information on quiet gearboxes for stage technology.
- Classic Spindle lifting gearboxes are suitable for top mounting, while cubic designs provide high flexibility in machine integration through all-around machining and holes and are often used for bottom mounting.
- There are two main functional variants: the basic version with a translationally moving, twist-proof spindle and the running nut version.
- In the running nut version, the spindle rotates, and the lifting nut moves axially, which is particularly advantageous in limited installation spaces.
- The choice of functional variant depends on application-specific criteria, such as available space in front or behind the gearbox and the need for a variable nut geometry.
- Typical applications for cubic shapes are machine tools, while running nut versions are often used in printing machines for format adjustments or in logistics for shifting carts.
- The integration of safety components such as safety brakes for vertical axes or emergency stop brakes may be required depending on the application.
Functional variants: translational spindle and running nut version.
Basic version: translationally moving, twist-proof spindle. Running nut version: spindle rotates, lifting nut moves axially – advantageous in limited installation space. Application: format adjustment printing machines (strokes ≥500 mm). Safety brakes for vertical axes in vertical movements.
Application-specific selection criteria
Basic version: when space is required in front of the gearbox and room for spindle storage. Running nut version: in case of space constraints behind the gearbox or variable nut geometry (e.g., hall floor adjustments). Logistics: shifting carts (strokes up to 1000 mm without spindle overhang). Emergency stop brakes for added safety.Optimize: Utilize technical performance characteristics and safety potentials.
Performance limits: speed and duty cycle.
Conventional Lifting gearboxes: limited at high speeds/continuous operation. Fast lifting gearboxes (often ball screw drives, optimized lubrication) >50 mm/s, can lose self-locking (brake needed). E.g.: quick format adjustments packaging machines. Electric motors with integrated brake available.
Material selection for industrial requirements
Food industry: stainless steel, H1 lubrication. Standard housing: aluminum die-cast/cast iron; spindles: steel; worm gears/lifting nuts: bronze alloys. Chemicals: special coatings/seals for media resistance. Also, special gearboxes for rope drums.
Safe motor integration and operation
Standard three-phase motors (often with reduction) are used. Avoid blocking movement (protection from damage); limit switches/torque limiters are important. Heavy-duty lifting tables (>10 t): double brakes, limit monitoring. Cranes: fail-safe brakes for crane winches..Mastering: Configuration, accessories, and specifications for top performance.
Spindle configuration and design
Pressure load: spindle buckling limits lifting. Tensile load: material availability (standard up to 6m) or bending-critical rotational speed determines max. spindle length. Strokes >6m: multi-part spindles (e.g., sluice gates). Correct design is safety-critical.
- The spindle configuration must consider compressive loads (limiting buckling risk height) and tensile loads (limiting material availability and bending critical speed length); for strokes over 6 meters, multi-part spindles can be used.
- For the synchronous operation of multiple lifting units electronic (via encoders and control) and mechanical solutions (through connection shafts and distribution gear boxes) are available, with mechanical systems regarded as more robust and fail-safe.
- Important accessories for performance enhancement and safety include safety nut catchers (SFM), which can catch the load in case of main nut failure and can be used for wear measurement.
- Protective elements such as bellows or spiral springs protect the spindle from contamination and can significantly extend its lifespan, especially in harsh environments.
- The efficiency varies greatly: trapezoidal threaded spindles achieve 25-35%, ball screw drives up to 50%, and special bevel gear lift boxes with ball screw drives can demonstrate over 80% efficiency.
- A higher efficiency leads to significant energy savings and thus lower operating costs.
- The correct design of all components, particularly the spindle, is crucial for the safety and longevity of the system.
Synchronous operation of multiple units
Electronic synchronization: encoders/control. Mechanical (connection shafts, distribution gear boxes): robust, fail-safe, for safety-critical applications. Example: Assembly platforms (aviation industry, up to 8 synchronized gear boxes).
Accessories for performance and safety
Safety nut catcher (SFM): catches load in case of main nut failure. SFM also for wear measurement (predictive maintenance). Bellows/spiral springs: spindle protection (dirt), increases lifespan (e.g., cement plants, wear -70%).
Efficiency and performance
Trapezoidal threaded spindles: efficiency 25-35%. Ball screw drives: up to 50%; special bevel gear lift boxes with ball screw drives: >80%. At 10 kW: energy savings >5 kW possible, lowering operating costs.Select: Discover the right lift gear boxes for your industry and ATEK system solutions
Application examples by industry
Application: automotive industry (lifting platforms), medical technology (operating tables). Positioning rollers (steelworks), part of logistics conveyor systems, moving stage backdrops (loads: kg up to hundreds t). Example: synchronous solar panel alignment.
ATEK as a system provider for drive trains
ATEK Drive Solutions: system provider for industrial drive trains. Combining experience (gear boxes, brakes) & competence (servo motors) for complete solutions. Systems: Lifting gearboxes, servo motor, safety brake (e.g., 50 kN, 30 mm/s).
Advantages: modularity, custom solutions, consulting
Modular system: many configurations, fast delivery. Strength: custom special solutions (also small series), about 500,000 stock parts. Consulting for special requirements (e.g., lift gear boxes with servo motor with brake for packaging machines, 120 cycles/min). worm gear boxes also available.Implement: Find the right lift gear box and ensure long-term success
Selection criteria for specific applications
Criteria: load (5-500 kN), lift speed (1-100 mm/s), duty cycle, environment. Also material (stainless steel/food), maintenance, safety (safety brake) should be considered. Precise requirements analysis is fundamental.
- The selection of the appropriate lifting unit requires the consideration of criteria such as load (typically 5-500 kN), lift speed (1-100 mm/s), duty cycle, and environmental conditions.
- Additional aspects such as material requirements (e.g., stainless steel for the food industry), maintenance needs, and specific safety precautions (e.g., the use of safety brakes) are also crucial.
- A fundamental and precise requirements analysis is essential to define the optimal linear drive for the specific application.
- The correct sizing, which includes the operating parameters and dynamic loads, is critical to prevent premature wear and system failures.
- The choice of spindle type – whether a robust, self-locking trapezoidal threaded spindle or a dynamic ball screw spindle with high efficiency – directly influences the performance and total costs of the system.
- ATEK Drive Solutions supports as a system provider in the selection and configuration to realize tailored, efficient, and reliable drive solutions for precise linear movements.
Importance of correct design
Correct sizing (operating parameters, dynamics) prevents wear/failures. Spindle type – trapezoidal (robust, self-locking) or ball (dynamic, efficiency >80%) – affects performance/costs. Design support (e.g., 10,000 h lifespan).
Conclusion: Precision and power combined
Spindle lifting gearboxes are important for precise linear movements. Customized selection/configuration ensures efficiency/reliability. ATEK Drive Solutions: system provider for complete, tailored drive solutions. Experience, modular system available. Contact for consulting.
ATEK Drive Solutions: precision, power, customized lift gear box systems. Request an offer for optimizing industrial movement processes.
