How gearbox ratio selection impacts inertia matching, servo tuning, and machine performance

Sponsored by GAM.

Imagine a small child trying to push a full-size adult in a shopping cart. It’s possible to get the cart moving (barely), but it would be very hard to start or stop. Steering could be disastrous—the child may not make it around a corner in time.

A high inertia ratio between a load and a servo motor is like a small child pushing a heavy cart; it would be difficult to start and stop, and response can be sluggish. (Image courtesy of GAM.)

“In servo tuning, this...