High-Precision Rack & Pinion Drive Systems

High-Precision Rack & Pinion Drive Systems

These systems utilize our our precision Planetary and Servo-Worm Reducers, which have backlash levels down to one arc-minute, to rigidly support and drive a hardened & ground pinion. The rack used in these systems is also hardened & ground.

These drives are perfect for a wide range of applications, including axis drives requiring precise positioning & repeatability, traveling gantries & columns, pick & place robots, CNC routers and material handling systems. Heavy 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.

  • Systems 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:*
High Hardened & Ground
(UHPR & HPR)		 DIN 3 to 6
(~AGMA 12+)		 < 0.012 to 0.036 mm
per meter		 0.02 mm

*The rack and pinion backlash depends on the alignment of the rack to the linear guides.

There are three levels of precision for the hardened & ground racks, with rack pitch error ranging from 0.012 mm to 0.036 mm per meter length depending on which rack is used.  Follow this link for more information on our Precision Racks.

ZTR

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 20 795 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 30 791 lb. 8,288 in/min
3 20.89.420 20 791 lb. 8,288 in/min
4 20.89.415 15 791 lb. 8,288 in/min
HP Size 4 2 20.89.430 30 1,124 lb. 6,631 in/min
3 20.89.420 20 1,124 lb. 6,631 in/min
4 20.89.415 15 1,124 lb. 6,631 in/min
HT Size 4 2 20.89.530 30 2,062 lb. 6,631 in/min
3 20.89.520 20 2,062 lb. 6,631 in/min
4 20.89.515 15 2,062 lb. 6,631 in/min
HP Size 5 2 20.89.530 30 1,888 lb. 4,973 in/min
3 20.89.520 20 1,888 lb. 4,973 in/min
4 20.89.515 15 1,888 lb. 4,973 in/min
HT Size 5 4 20.89.615 15 3,440 lb. 4,973 in/min
4 20.89.630 30 2,225 lb. 9,946 in/min
5 20.89.612 12 3,440 lb. 4,973 in/min
HP Size 6 4 20.89.615 15 2,248 lb. 4,973 in/min
4 20.89.630 30 2,248 lb. 9,946 in/min
5 20.89.612 12 2,248 lb. 4,973 in/min
HT Size 6 5 20.89.715 15 4,002 lb. 6,216 in/min
6 20.89.713 13 4,002 lb. 6,465 in/min
6 20.48.713 15 4,002 lb. 7,460 in/min
HP Size 7 5 20.89.715 15 4,721 lb. 4,083 in/min
6 20.89.713 13 4,721 lb. 4,246 in/min
6 20.48.715 15 4,721 lb. 4,899 in/min

* Force ratings do not include any safety factors. Drive forces vary depending on gearbox ratio selected.

ZTR

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
4 2 78.21.912 12 1,237 lb. 2,362 in/min
2 78.21.916 16 1,237 lb. 3,150 in/min
2 78.21.533 33 835 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 1,686 lb. 787 in/min
2 78.22.919 19 1,686 lb. 1,247 in/min
2 78.22.923 23 1,686 lb. 1,509 in/min
2 78.22.540 40 1,686 lb. 2,625 in/min
2 78.22.545 45 1,507 lb. 2,953 in/min
3 78.32.912 12 1,686 lb. 1,181 in/min
3 78.32.914 14 1,686 lb. 1,378 in/min
3 78.30.530 30 1,507 lb. 2,953 in/min
7 2 78.23.912 12 3,147 lb. 1,509 in/min
2 78.23.923 23 3,147 lb. 1,509 in/min
2 78.23.929 29 3,147 lb. 1,903 in/min
3 78.33.912 12 2,825 lb. 1,181 in/min
3 78.33.916 16 3,597 lb. 1,575 in/min
3 78.33.919 19 3,597 lb. 1,870 in/min
3 78.33.535 35 2,825 lb. 3,445 in/min
3 78.33.540 40 2,472 lb. 3,937 in/min
4 78.43.912 12 3,597 lb. 1,575 in/min
4 78.40.530 30 2,472 lb. 3,937 in/min
8 3 78.34.912 12 2,825 lb. 1,181 in/min
3 78.34.919 19 5,725 lb. 1,870 in/min
3 78.34.926 26 6,070 lb. 2,559 in/min
3 78.34.932 32 6,070 lb. 3,150 in/min
4 78.44.912 12 5,385 lb. 1,575 in/min
4 78.44.917 17 6,295 lb. 2,231 in/min
4 78.44.919 19 6,295 lb. 2,493 in/min
4 78.44.520 20 6,295 lb. 2,625 in/min
5 78.44.512 12 6,295 lb. 1,969 in/min
5 78.44.516 16 6,295 lb. 2,625 in/min
5 78.54.918 18 6,295 lb. 2,953 in/min
6 78.64.912 12 6,295 lb. 2,362 in/min
6 78.64.913 13 6,295 lb. 2,559 in/min
6 78.64.915 15 6,295 lb. 2,953 in/min
9
4 78.46.912 12 5,385 lb. 1,575 in/min
4 78.46.919 19 10,594 lb. 2,493 in/min
4 78.46.920 20 11,016 lb. 2,625 in/min
5 78.56.914 14 8,476 lb. 2,297 in/min
5 78.56.918 18 11,466 lb. 2,953 in/min
5 78.56.919 19 11,466 lb. 3,117 in/min
5 78.56.920 20 11,466 lb. 3,281 in/min
6 78.66.912 12 8,829 lb. 2,362 in/min
6 78.66.915 15 12,815 lb. 2,953 in/min
6 78.66.916 16 12,815 lb. 3,150 in/min
10
5 78.57.912 12 6,357 lb. 1,969 in/min
5 78.57.919 19 12,815 lb. 3,117 in/min
6 78.67.912 12 8,829 lb. 2,362 in/min
6 78.67.916 16 12,815 lb. 3,150 in/min
8 78.87.912 12 12,815 lb. 3,150 in/min
10+
8 Please consult the factory!
10
12

* Force ratings do not include any safety factors. Drive forces vary depending on gearbox ratio selected.