Machine Elements
Transmissions, Bearings, Shafts
TRANSMISSIONS
Matching the torque and speed of the motor to the torque and
speed of the task
Speed (rpm)
Torq
ue (
oz-in
)
Motor torque-speed curve
Stall
No-load
Load torque
Operating point
Speed (rpm)
Torq
ue (
oz-in
)
Changes with motor V
Increasing V
Load torque
Small DC Motors
• Plain motors: spin fast, low torque• Gear motors: spin slow, high torque• More voltage = more speed and more
torque• Less voltage = slows down, but torque
down• If spin too fast, bearings fail• If too much current, coil heats up and
melts
Speed (rpm)
Torq
ue (
oz-in
)
Motor complaintsStall too wimpy!
No-load spins too fast!
Solution: A transmission gets you on a new T-S curve
Speed (rpm)
Torq
ue (
oz-in
)
5:1 Transmission
Before: low torque, high speed
102
5
25
After: high torque at low speed
T2 = n*T1 v2 = (1/n)*v1
Same power!
2 1 2 1
1* T n T v v
n
*P T v
1 1 1*P T v
2 2 2 1 1 1
1* *P T v nT v P
n
Fast, weak motor
Slow, strong turntable
Belt Drive
Fast, weak motor
Slow, strong turntable
Rim Drive
Cam As a Transmission
FOLLOWER
CAM
moparmusclemagazine.com
BEARINGSand
SHAFTS
Getting things to spin by transmitting rotary power
What is a bearing?
A BEARING REDUCES DEGREES-OF-FREEDOM
SPECIFICATIONS
• Ability to constrain motion• Friction• Load• Lifetime• Fabrication/Mounting• Cost
TO SLIDE OR TO ROLL?
Rolling elements: Low friction, complex, expensive
Sliding elements: Simple, high friction
timken.com
Tapered Roller BearingAngular contact roller bearing
Sliding bearings (prismatic joints)
L
D
L/D = 6 to 10
BIND NO BIND
More sliding joints
BIND NO BIND
KH Linear bushing
Danahermotion.com
alibaba.com linear bearings
SUPPORTING SHAFTS
YES!
NO!
NO!
Bearing misalignment
OFFSET
ANGULAR
Bearing load
radial
thrust
JOINING SHAFTS
?
Offset misalignment Angular misalignment
A classic binding problem
one shaft, 4 supports= binding!
?
Coupling methods
rigid coupler, press-fit or glue or set-screws
flexible coupler
Or, just tape ‘em together
electrical tape or fiber reinforced tape