Medium-Soft Precision Rack & Pinion Drive Systems
These systems utilize our our precision Planetary and Servo-Worm Reducers, to rigidly support and drive a hardened & ground pinion. The rack used in these systems is Soft, which has a quality level of DIN 9 (~AGMA 9) and soft teeth.
These drives are perfect for a wide range of applications, including axis drives requiring good positioning & repeatability, traveling gantries & columns, pick & place robots, CNC routers and material handling systems. Light loads and duty cycles can be easily handled with these drives.
Our Automatic Lubrication Systems are highly recommended for use with these drives, providing continuous grease lubrication to the rack & pinion tooth flanks to preserve the quality and lifetime of the gearing.
- System Precision
- Right-Angle System
Specifications - In-Line System
Specifications
The system precision, 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:* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medium-Soft | Soft (BR) |
DIN 9 (~AGMA 9) |
< 0.150 mm per meter |
0.06 mm |
*The rack and pinion backlash depends on the alignment of the rack to the linear guides.
Our right-angle systems utilize our High-Torque (HT), High-Performance (HP) and Economy (E) Servo-Worm Reducers, which have backlash levels down to one arc-minute, to support and drive a hardened & ground pinion shaft. These reducers are available in six sizes and have ratios from 4.75:1 to 52:1 (higher ratios available with planetary-worm reducers). These reducers have options for keyed, compression or flanged outputs, which rigidly support our pinion.
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: |
Pinion Shaft: |
# of Pinion Teeth: |
Maximum Drive Force:* |
Maximum Linear Speed: |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E Size 1 | 1.5 | 20.89.120 | 20 | 254 lb. | 4,144 in/min |
| 2 | 20.89.115 | 15 | 254 lb. | 4,144 in/min | |
| HP Size 3 | 2 | 20.89.020 | 20 | 477 lb. | 4,144 in/min |
| 2 | 20.89.330 | 30 | 530 lb. | 8,288 in/min | |
| 3 | 20.89.320 | 20 | 530 lb. | 8,288 in/min | |
| HT Size 3 | 2 | 20.89.430 | 30 | 706 lb. | 8,288 in/min |
| 3 | 20.89.420 | 20 | 777 lb. | 8,288 in/min | |
| 4 | 20.89.415 | 15 | 791 lb. | 8,288 in/min | |
| HP Size 4 | 2 | 20.89.430 | 30 | 706 lb. | 6,631 in/min |
| 3 | 20.89.420 | 20 | 777 lb. | 6,631 in/min | |
| 4 | 20.89.415 | 15 | 1,059 lb. | 6,631 in/min | |
| HT Size 4 | 2 | 20.89.530 | 30 | 706 lb. | 6,631 in/min |
| 3 | 20.89.520 | 20 | 777 lb. | 6,631 in/min | |
| 4 | 20.89.515 | 15 | 1,059 lb. | 6,631 in/min | |
| HP Size 5 | 2 | 20.89.530 | 30 | 706 lb. | 4,973 in/min |
| 3 | 20.89.520 | 20 | 777 lb. | 4,973 in/min | |
| 4 | 20.89.515 | 15 | 1,059 lb. | 4,973 in/min | |
| HT Size 5 | 4 | 20.89.615 | 15 | 1,059 lb. | 4,973 in/min |
| 4 | 20.89.630 | 30 | 2,225 lb. | 9,946 in/min | |
| 5 | 20.89.612 | 12 | 1,059 lb. | 4,973 in/min | |
| HP Size 6 | 4 | 20.89.615 | 15 | 1,059 lb. | 4,973 in/min |
| 4 | 20.89.630 | 30 | 2,248 lb. | 9,946 in/min | |
| 5 | 20.89.612 | 12 | 1,059 lb. | 4,973 in/min | |
| HT Size 6 | 5 | 20.89.715 | 15 | 1,695 lb. | 6,216 in/min |
| 6 | 20.89.713 | 13 | 1,847 lb. | 6,465 in/min | |
| 6 | 20.48.713 | 15 | 2,496 lb. | 7,460 in/min | |
| HP Size 7 | 5 | 20.89.715 | 15 | 1,695 lb. | 4,083 in/min |
| 6 | 20.89.713 | 13 | 1,847 lb. | 4,246 in/min | |
| 6 | 20.48.715 | 15 | 2,496 lb. | 4,899 in/min |
*Force ratings do not include any safety factors. 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.
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.
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 |
| 2 | 78.20.527 | 27 | 495 lb. | 5,315 in/min | |
| 2 | 78.20.529 | 29 | 475 lb. | 5,709 in/min | |
| 2 | 78.20.535 | 35 | 394 lb. | 6,890 in/min | |
| 4 | 2 | 78.21.912 | 12 | 247 lb. | 2,362 in/min |
| 2 | 78.21.916 | 16 | 384 lb. | 3,150 in/min | |
| 2 | 78.21.533 | 33 | 771 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 | 247 lb. | 787 in/min |
| 2 | 78.22.919 | 19 | 457 lb. | 1,247 in/min | |
| 2 | 78.22.923 | 23 | 562 lb. | 1,509 in/min | |
| 2 | 78.22.540 | 40 | 1,006 lb. | 2,625 in/min | |
| 2 | 78.22.545 | 45 | 1,006 lb. | 2,953 in/min | |
| 3 | 78.32.912 | 12 | 377 lb. | 1,181 in/min | |
| 3 | 78.32.914 | 14 | 515 lb. | 1,378 in/min | |
| 3 | 78.30.530 | 30 | 1,177 lb. | 2,953 in/min | |
| 7 | 2 | 78.23.912 | 12 | 247 lb. | 787 in/min |
| 2 | 78.23.923 | 23 | 562 lb. | 1,509 in/min | |
| 2 | 78.23.929 | 29 | 716 lb. | 1,903 in/min | |
| 3 | 78.33.912 | 12 | 377 lb. | 1,181 in/min | |
| 3 | 78.33.916 | 16 | 618 lb. | 1,575 in/min | |
| 3 | 78.33.919 | 19 | 743 lb. | 1,870 in/min | |
| 3 | 78.33.535 | 35 | 1,413 lb. | 3,445 in/min | |
| 3 | 78.33.540 | 40 | 1,624 lb. | 3,937 in/min | |
| 4 | 78.43.912 | 12 | 715 lb. | 1,575 in/min | |
| 4 | 78.40.530 | 30 | 2,295 lb. | 3,937 in/min | |
| 8 | 3 | 78.34.912 | 12 | 377 lb. | 1,181 in/min |
| 3 | 78.34.919 | 19 | 743 lb. | 1,870 in/min | |
| 3 | 78.34.926 | 26 | 1,032 lb. | 2,559 in/min | |
| 3 | 78.34.932 | 32 | 1,280 lb. | 3,150 in/min | |
| 4 | 78.44.912 | 12 | 715 lb. | 1,575 in/min | |
| 4 | 78.44.917 | 17 | 1,246 lb. | 2,231 in/min | |
| 4 | 78.44.919 | 19 | 1,394 lb. | 2,493 in/min | |
| 4 | 78.44.520 | 20 | 1,483 lb. | 2,625 in/min | |
| 5 | 78.54.912 | 12 | 1,059 lb. | 1,969 in/min | |
| 5 | 78.54.916 | 16 | 1,854 lb. | 2,625 in/min | |
| 5 | 78.54.918 | 18 | 2,072 lb. | 2,953 in/min | |
| 5 | 78.50.536 | 36 | 3,390 lb. | 5,906 in/min | |
| 6 | 78.64.912 | 12 | 1,589 lb. | 2,362 in/min | |
| 6 | 78.64.913 | 13 | 1,847 lb. | 2,559 in/min | |
| 6 | 78.64.915 | 15 | 2,496 lb. | 2,953 in/min | |
| 9 | |||||
| 4 | 78.46.912 | 12 | 715 lb. | 1,575 in/min | |
| 4 | 78.46.919 | 19 | 1,394 lb. | 2,493 in/min | |
| 4 | 78.46.920 | 20 | 1,483 lb. | 2,625 in/min | |
| 5 | 78.56.914 | 14 | 1,513 lb. | 2,297 in/min | |
| 5 | 78.56.918 | 18 | 2,072 lb. | 2,953 in/min | |
| 5 | 78.56.919 | 19 | 2,230 lb. | 3,117 in/min | |
| 5 | 78.56.920 | 20 | 2,331 lb. | 3,281 in/min | |
| 6 | 78.66.912 | 12 | 1,589 lb. | 2,362 in/min | |
| 6 | 78.66.915 | 15 | 2,496 lb. | 2,953 in/min | |
| 6 | 78.66.916 | 16 | 2,649 lb. | 3,150 in/min | |
| 10 | |||||
| 5 | 78.57.912 | 12 | 1,059 lb. | 1,969 in/min | |
| 5 | 78.57.919 | 19 | 2,230 lb. | 3,117 in/min | |
| 6 | 78.67.912 | 12 | 1,589 lb. | 2,362 in/min | |
| 6 | 78.67.916 | 16 | 2,649 lb. | 3,150 in/min | |
| 8 | 78.87.912 | 12 | 2,869 lb. | 3,150 in/min | |
| 10+ | |||||
| 10 | Please consult the factory! | ||||
| 12 | |||||
*Force ratings do not include any safety factors. Higher forces are possible depending on gearbox ratio selected.