News

Daily Maintenance of Planetary Reducer
2025/8/22

planetary gearboxes.jpg

Daily maintenance of planetary gearboxes is key to extending their service life and ensuring stable operation. RicoCNC offers various brands of planetary gearboxes. We will discuss daily maintenance for planetary gearboxes in this article.

1. Lubrication Maintenance of Planetary Reducer

Regularly check the lubricant (grease) level and condition to ensure the oil level is within the specified range.

Different gearbox models require different oil types (e.g., gear oil, grease) and replacement cycles. Generally, the oil should be changed after the first 100-200 hours of operation, and every 1000-2000 hours thereafter.

When changing the lubricant, drain the old oil and clean any impurities and debris from the oil tank to prevent contamination from mixing the new and old oils.

For low ambient temperatures, use a lubricant with good low-temperature fluidity. For high-temperature environments, use a high-temperature resistant grease to prevent oil degradation.

2. Operating Status Monitoring of Planetary Reducer

Before starting the machine daily, check the gearbox connections (e.g., bolts, couplings) for looseness. If loose, tighten them immediately to prevent increased vibration and component wear. During operation, pay attention to the sound of the reducer. Normal operation should produce no noticeable abnormal noises (such as "clicking" or "gurgling"). If any unusual noises are detected, immediately stop the machine for inspection.

Regularly use an infrared thermometer to check the temperature of the reducer housing, bearing end caps, and other parts to ensure they do not exceed the maximum allowable temperature for the equipment (usually no more than 80°C, refer to the manual for details). If the temperature rises abnormally, investigate whether it is caused by overload, poor lubrication, or heat dissipation obstruction.

Observe the reducer's sealing areas (such as the shaft extension and end cap mating surfaces) for oil leaks. If leaks are detected, promptly replace the seals (oil seals, O-rings, etc.) and check the mating surfaces for smoothness. Reapply sealant if necessary.

Planetary Gearbox.jpg

3. Cleaning and Protection of Planetary Reducer

Keep the reducer surface clean. Regularly clean dust, oil, and debris from the housing to prevent debris from entering the heat dissipation holes and affecting heat dissipation.

Check the reducer's breather cap (breathing valve) for unobstructed operation. A blockage can increase internal pressure and cause oil leaks, requiring regular cleaning or replacement. 

4. Load and Operating Specifications of Planetary Reducer

Avoid long-term overload operation of the reducer. Monitor the load current (indirectly determined by the motor current) during operation to ensure it does not exceed the rated load. This prevents damage to gears and bearings due to excessive load.

Reducing frequent starting and stopping, as well as sudden acceleration and deceleration, creates shock loads and exacerbates fatigue wear on internal components.

planetary gearbox.jpg

These maintenance measures can effectively reduce the probability of planetary reducer failure and ensure long-term stable operation. RicoCNC can provide a wide range of planetary reducers from various brands, such as: PF90L1 5-19-70-Y VGM Planetary Reducer, MF60XL1-10-K-11-50-S VGM Planetary Gearbox Reduceer, PG60L1-10-11-50-Y VGM Planetary Gearhead Reducer, PGE80 GEBO Planetary Gear Box Reducer.


Deutsch Espanol Francais Italiano Portugues Japanese Korean Arabic Russian