Technical Note
S-Series Gear Reducers S-Series
Features
The SEW-Eurodrive S-series gear reducer contains two gear stages:
st nd
1 stage – helical, 2 stage – worm. It also contains the
following features.
8
2
10 9
3 11 10
1
6 9
5
4
1. SAE Class 30 or equivalent (GG20) gray cast 7. Exclusive interlocking 2-piece seal design
iron housing and flanges. No bolt-on bearing consisting of a patented bi-helix Viton
covers inner seal and a double-lip Nitrile (Buna N)
outer seal to provide three sealing surfaces
2. Finish ground or shaved steel gears heat against contaminants
treated and hardened to 58-62 Rockwell C
8. Removable inspection cover.
3. ABEC-1 bearing tolerances
9. Oil level and breather plugs strategically
4. SAE 1045 steel shafts placed according to the customer’s
5. Input and output shafts available in either mounting position
inch or metric sizes; solid shafts (not 10. st
1 stage helical gear set to increase total
pictured) contain a center tapped hole to ease efficiency
the mounting of components onto the shaft
11. Corrugated surface improves heat
6. Captured keys on input and output shafts dissipation and reduces vibration
Date:
Replaces:
7-2003
S-001-03
S-001-04
Page 1 of 7
Technical Note
Additional Features:
• Style: Right-angle shaft orientation
(output shaft at 90° to the motor shaft
or to a solid input shaft)
• Input Types: Available with adapters
to accommodate NEMA or IEC motor
frames, solid input shafts, backstops,
adjustable motor mounting platforms,
and scoops. Also accepts an R-series
reducer as the input (ex: S67R37) to
attain higher ratios and lower speeds
• Output Flanges: Contain O-ring to
minimize oil leakage that may result
from mounting to a “flat” surface that exceeds acceptable tolerances. Contain a centering
tenon (pilot). Available with either through holes (B5) or tapped holes (B14).
• Output Shaft – Keyed: Metric or inch shaft available in hollow or solid designs. Keyed hollow
shaft supplied with special mounting paste and a retaining kit. Paste protects against
corrosion as is available in regular or food grade. Retaining kit secures customer’s solid shaft
and contains bolt, washer, and protective cap.
• Output Shaft – Keyless: Available as a metric shrink disc or as an inch/metric tapered bushing
TM
(TorqLOC )
• Mounting: Available as foot, flange, or shaft mount
• Torque Ratings: Based upon mechanical capacity under continuous duty operation
• Torque Capacity: From 380 lb-in to 37,710 lb-in
• Shaft Rotation: Unrestricted - clockwise or counterclockwise
• Efficiency Range: From 50% to 90% depending on ratio and speed. As a rule, the faster the
speed, the higher the efficiency
• Ratio Range – Single: 6.80 to 288
• Ratio Range – Compound: 156 to 33,818
• Fatigue Strength: Shafts and gears designed for infinite fatigue strength
• Shock Capacity: Meets or exceeds AGMA 6009-A00, which states that reducer must be
capable of withstanding 4 shock loads within an 8-hour period – each shock equal to 200% of
the maximum rated torque for 2 seconds.
Date:
Replaces:
7-2003
S-001-03
S-001-04
Page 2 of 7
Technical Note
Housing Material
All SEW S-series reducers are manufactured from SAE 30 or equivalent (GG20) gray cast iron due to
the following benefits:
1. Cast iron flows well, allowing it to be used on intricate castings.
2. Cast iron machines well.
3. Cast iron serves as an excellent damping material to minimize vibration, contributing to
longer bearing and gear life.
Ductile iron (or nodular iron), a type of cast iron containing magnesium, is 2 to 4 times stiffer than
gray cast iron. It is often used in applications involving heavy shock loads at low temperatures –
when gray iron housings lose much of their shock absorbing strength.
Ductile iron housings are not available on S-series reducers.
Design
S-series reducers contain two gear stages and are more efficient than single worm reducers of the
same ratio. The first stage is a helical gear set and is very efficient (98.5%) due to rolling friction.
The second stage is a worm set and is less efficient due to sliding friction. The efficiency of the
worm set depends on the number of turns on the worm – the more turns, the larger the ratio and
the lower the efficiency.
Since a helical gear set is used on the input, less reduction is required from the worm set. Less
reduction permits the use of a worm with fewer turns and higher efficiency. The result is a gear
reducer with a greater overall efficiency than a single worm of equal ratio.
Break-in Period
A 24-hour break-in period is required for the worm and wheel to seat to each other. During this
period noise levels may be higher than normal and operating efficiency may be 2 – 12% lower than
normal. The higher the gear ratio, the more apparent is this effect.
Rated efficiency is achieved after the break-in period under the following conditions:
1. Reducer has reached normal operating temperature.
2. Reducer contains the proper type and amount of lubrication.
3. Reducer is operating at or below its rated load.
Date:
Replaces:
7-2003
S-001-03
S-001-04
Page 3 of 7
Technical Note
Self-locking Drives
Certain applications, such as hoists, inclined conveyors, or high inertia loads require special
consideration during stopping. When motor power is removed, either gravity or the load’s high
inertia creates a back-driving torque at the reducer’s output shaft. This torque attempts to rotate
the gear train from the output shaft rather than from the input shaft.
R, F, and K style reducers use gearing with rolling friction. Therefore, their efficiency is very high
and their gear train rotates when subject to a back-driving torque. In contrast, worm gears contain
sliding friction with lower efficiencies. Their ability to rotate via a back-driving load changes based
upon their efficiency. As a general rule, if the efficiency is 50% or less, the pitch angle of the worm
gear is too steep to permit the worm to rotate from the output shaft. Essentially, the reducer’s gear
train acts as a brake and the reducer is said to be “self-locking.” Attempting to back-drive a self-
locking worm reducer causes the reducer’s components and housing to absorb large amounts of
stress that may lead to premature wear or catastrophic failure if not properly sized.
Since SEW’s S-series reducers contain a helical input, the total efficiency is more than 50% for all
ratios and sizes. Therefore, the S-series reducers are not considered self-locking. SEW
recommends a reducer with an integral brakemotor for use in applications involving a back-driving
load.
Foot Mounting
S-series units with solid output shafts are available
with a footed housing that contains through-holes
for mounting. The reducer may be mounted from
the bottom or from the side since there are two
footed surfaces (J-mount).
A footed housing is not available with a hollow
output shaft. However, the non-footed housing that
is normally supplied with a hollow shaft contains
tapped holes on the bottom that may be used to
mount the reducer, if necessary. Special care must
be taken to ensure correct alignment.
See Tech Note GM-019 for more information on S67
mounting procedures for units with feet.
Date:
Replaces:
7-2003
S-001-03
S-001-04
Page 4 of 7
Technical Note
Shaft Mounting – Tapped Holes
The S-series housing that is supplied with a keyed hollow shaft, shrink disc, TorqLOC, or DIN spline
does not have feet. SEW strongly recommends using a torque arm mounted to the side of the
reducer for the best assurance against problems due to misalignment.
However, the tapped holes that are used to mount a torque arm may be used without the torque
arm to mount the reducer, if necessary. The application should contain ample space to allow the
bolts to be thread from inside the mounting surface and into the housing. Often times, conveyors
provide such access.
Since the reducer has no raised tenon to locate the exact center of the hollow shaft, extreme care is
necessary to assure proper alignment and to avoid premature failure of the bearings. If a tenon is
desired, SEW can supply an optional B14 flange that mounts to the face of the reducer while
providing access to the tapped holes.
See Tech Note GM-020 for more information on mounting procedures for reducers with a
hollow shaft.
Shaft Mounting – Torque Arm
SEW’s preferred method of installing a hollow shaft
reducer is to hang the reducer from a solid shaft and
to allow the solid shaft to support the entire weight of
the reducer and motor. Since this method does not
require the use of feet or a flange, the reducer has a
natural tendency to spin around the shaft if not
0° restrained.
Therefore, SEW can provide an optional torque arm
and rubber bushing that mount onto either side of the
reducer. The torque arm has eight symmetrical
holes; thus, there are eight possible mounting angles.
0° is shown at left. Positive angles occur in the
clockwise direction. At 270°, the torque arm bushing
SA67T
is located at the bottom of the reducer.
When a torque arm is supplied, the letter “T” is added after the reducer size.
It is most important that the customer properly affix the torque arm. More information on torque
arm installation is available within Tech Note GM-021.
Date:
Replaces:
7-2003
S-001-03
S-001-04
Page 5 of 7
Technical Note
Flange Mounting
Two styles of flanges are available: B5 and B14.
Both flanges contain an O-ring and tenon (pilot)
as shown at left.
The O-ring helps prevent oil leakage that could
occur if the flange is mounted to a “flat” surface
that exceeds the recommended flatness
O-ring
tolerance.
The tenon allows for easier installation as well as
protects the reducer from shifting out of
alignment if the mounting bolts were to loosen.
Tenon
B5 Flange (“F”)
A B5 flange bolts onto the reducer housing and
contains through-holes (non-threaded) for SAF
mounting. These holes are intentionally made
slightly larger than the bolts for which they are
intended. The letter “F” is added to the
nomenclature to designate this option.
B14 Flange (“Z”)
A B14 flange bolts onto either side of the reducer
and contains through holes to allow access to the
tapped holes of the housing. Each threaded hole is
spaced equally around the bolt circle at either 45°
or 90° increments, depending upon the size of the
reducer. The bolt circle and tenon diameters are SAZ
smaller on the B14 than on the B5 flange of the
same reducer. The letter “Z” is added to the
nomenclature for this option.
Please reference Tech Note GM-020 for
important additional information on
mounting procedures for flanged units.
Date:
Replaces:
7-2003
S-001-03
S-001-04
Page 6 of 7
Technical Note
Flange-Opposite-Shaft Mounting
An S-series solid shaft reducer is available with a ‘flange-opposite-shaft’ configuration, as shown
below. The solid output shaft and mounting flange are located on opposite sides of the reducer. In
this configuration, a small radial force (OHL) on the output shaft creates a large bending moment
on the flange due to the long lever arm (distance L).
Without additional support, the allowable overhung load (OHL) must be reduced to 25% of the
published maximum OHL to avoid distorting or fracturing the flange. Contact SEW Regional
Engineering for more information.
Flange
Flange Tenon
Direction
of
OHL
Driven
Machine
Date:
Replaces:
7-2003
S-001-03
S-001-04
Page 7 of 7
