Why does the planetary gearbox produce abnormal noise?
Planetary reducers are very commonly used in automation equipment, but we may find that they are prone to producing abnormal noises during use. Generally, we judge that this may be due to gaps between gears, broken teeth, or insufficient meshing caused by gear deformation. In this article, we will briefly explain several reasons that cause abnormal noises in reducers and provide some suggestions for these reasons.

1、 Gear related issues
1. Gear wear or damage

The gears in planetary gear reducers may experience wear or damage due to friction, heavy loads, and other reasons during long-term use. Worn gears will produce abnormal noise during the meshing process, especially when the tooth profile is incorrect or the gear hardness is too high, the abnormal noise will be more pronounced. Gear wear can also cause an increase in backlash between teeth, resulting in a strong impact force at the moment of start-up and causing impact noise.

2. Incorrect gear tooth profile

Unreasonable tooth profile design or insufficient manufacturing accuracy of gears can lead to uneven friction and impact during meshing, resulting in abnormal noise.

3. Gear hardness is too high

Excessive hardness of gears may result in the inability to form an effective lubricating oil film during meshing, increasing friction and wear, leading to abnormal noise.

2、 Bearing related issues
1. Loose or detached bearings

The bearings in planetary gear reducers may become loose or detached due to long-term use or improper maintenance. Loose bearings can cause abnormal noise during gear rotation, especially when the gap between the inner and outer rings of the bearing is too large, the abnormal noise will be more pronounced.

2. Bearing wear

During long-term operation of bearings, friction and wear can cause the gap between the rollers and the inner and outer rings to increase, resulting in abnormal noise during operation. Bearing wear may also lead to uneven bearing surfaces, further exacerbating abnormal noise.

3. Bearing contamination

Mixing water, acid, paint and other pollutants into bearings can cause corrosion, increase bearing friction, and thus produce abnormal noise.

4. Large bearing clearance

Large bearing clearance refers to the excessive gap between the roller and the inner and outer rings, which causes abnormal noise when the roller collides with the inner and outer rings during operation. This kind of abnormal noise is usually clear, continuous, periodic, and increases with the increase of speed.

3、 Lubrication related issues
1. Poor lubrication

Planetary gear reducers require regular lubrication. Poor or untimely lubrication can cause friction and wear between the gears and bearings during rotation, resulting in abnormal noise. Poor lubrication may also lead to excessive surface temperature of gears and bearings, further exacerbating wear and abnormal noise.

2. Quality issues with lubricants

The use of lubricants of poor quality or unsuitable for the operating environment of planetary gearboxes may also lead to abnormal noise. Impurities or moisture in lubricants may also cause poor lubrication and abnormal noise.