Gearboxes for Cobots: Compact, Backlash-Free Solutions for Collaborative Robots
Compact design, precise movements, and safe human-robot collaboration are among the key requirements for modern cobots. Nabtesco offers backlash-free shaft-to-shaft gearboxes, digital drive solutions, and high-performance actuators with high torque density and flexible integration options for collaborative robots. Standardized, scalable platforms combine cost-effective mass production with customer-specific adaptability. This enables cobot manufacturers to design compact joints, reduce their development costs, and integrate sensor technology without requiring additional installation space.
Are you looking for a compact and powerful drive solution for your collaborative robot?
Together, we’ll develop the right solution and guide you through every step—from selection and design to integration.
Request a Consultation
What advantages do Nabtesco gearboxes offer in cobots?
Nabtesco Strain wave gearboxes support compact, precise, and high-performance cobot joints. Various integration levels and customizable platforms facilitate the development of scalable production solutions.
Your benefits:
- Compact and lightweight joints: High torque density, short designs, and flexible hollow-shaft solutions enable streamlined joint concepts
- Precise movements and intuitive teaching: Backlash-free gearboxes and an adjustable back-torque feature support precise motion sequences and easy setup
- Digital gear functions: Integrated sensors provide torque and operating data for collision detection, process optimization, and condition monitoring
- Scalable solutions: Standardized platforms, modular actuators, and customizable interfaces reduce development effort and enable cost-effective production in high-volume applications
Which gearbox is right for your cobot?
Our portfolio includes Strain wave gearboxes and drive solutions at various levels of integration—from flexibly integrable gearbox sets to compact actuators.
| Solution | Design | Benefits for Cobot Manufacturers |
|---|---|---|
| Gear Set | Flexible integration into bearings, housings, and interfaces | High design flexibility |
| Gear Set Plus | Integrated output bearing with flexible integration | Less effort required for bearing arrangements and design |
| Gear Unit | Ready-to-install plug-and-play solution | Reduced assembly and tuning effort |
| Actuator | Coordinated drive unit consisting of a gearbox, motor, and optional sensors | Fewer individual components and interfaces |
| Digital shaft gearbox | Integrated acquisition of torque and operating data | Installation-space-independent collision, process, and status monitoring |
| Short gearbox | Short axial design with high torque capacity | Slimmer joints or higher load capacity |
Digital features, compact design, easy integration
Our digital bevel gearboxes measure torque, temperature, and vibration directly within the gearbox. The sensor technology, which integrates seamlessly into any installation space, supports collision, process, and condition monitoring, as well as efficient operation.
Our short-stroke gearboxes combine a short axial length with high torque capacity. This allows cobot joints to be designed more compactly and with lower weight, or to achieve higher load capacities and dynamic performance within a limited installation space. Compared to short-design shaft gearheads of the same size, the short gearheads offer up to 20% more torque and a service life up to 40% longer.
Our actuators combine a gearbox, motor, optional sensors, and interfaces into a single, integrated drive unit. This reduces design and tuning efforts and simplifies integration into various cobot platforms. Hollow-shaft motors, single-cable solutions, and daisy-chain configurations enable compact and protected cable and signal routing.
Typical Applications for Cobots
Whether for material handling, assembly, or welding: The cobot is ideal for flexible tasks performed in close proximity to people. Robots used in collaborative applications can be quickly adapted to new products, variants, and processes.
Applications:
- Handling, pick-and-place, bin picking, and machine loading
- Assembly, quality inspection, packaging, and palletizing
- Welding with cobots, grinding, polishing, gluing, and painting
- Medical and laboratory applications
Industrial Robots vs. Cobots: What Are the Differences in Gearbox Requirements?
Cobots and traditional robots—or industrial robots—place different demands on their axes. While cobots prioritize compact integration, reversibility, and flexible use in close proximity to humans, industrial robots are designed more for heavy loads, dynamic performance, and demanding continuous cycles.
| Criterion | Cobot | Industrial Robot |
|---|---|---|
| Working Volume | Compact, lightweight, and highly integrated joints | Robust axes with a larger working envelope |
| Performance | Low to medium payloads, moderate to high dynamics | High load capacities, speeds, and accelerations |
| Precision | Backlash-free motion for precise operation and easy teaching | High positioning and repeatability accuracy during fast cycles |
| Reversibility | Important for manual guidance and setup | Usually of lesser importance |
| Safety | Designed for use in close proximity to people | Operation typically takes place in secured areas |
| Integration | Compact actuators, internal cabling, and coordinated interfaces | Gearboxes, motors, and sensors are often designed and combined individually |
Cost-Effectiveness Through Economies of Scale
For cobot manufacturers, competitive unit costs are a crucial factor in mass production. Nabtesco combines standardized platforms and a high degree of modularity with automated manufacturing processes. This creates economies of scale that enable cost-effective manufacturing even as production volumes increase, without sacrificing customer-specific customizations.
Scaling a Cobot Project Economically
A Reliable Partner for Mass Production
Nabtesco is synonymous with European engineering and manufacturing expertise, scalable production capacity, and many years of experience in the robotics and automotive industries. High production capacity and reliable delivery capabilities provide planning certainty for cobot projects and mass production.
Our Expertise in Series Production
Our Product Solutions for Cobots
Hollow Shaft
Gear Kit
The simplest version of the hollow shaft gearbox
Shaft Gear Kit
with Solid & Hollow Shafts
Including Output Bearing
Plug & Play
Shaft Drive with Solid and Hollow Shafts
Including Drive and Output Bearings + Sealing System
Shaft Gear Kit
with Solid and Hollow Shafts
Including Smart Sensors and Artificial Intelligence
Plug-and-Play
Shaft Drive Systems with Solid and Hollow Shafts
Complete Systems for Your Automation Needs
Strain Wave Gear Kit
with Solid and Hollow Shafts:
120% Torque & 140% Service Life with the Same Footprint
Are you looking for a gearbox designed for higher torque?
For cobot designs with higher payloads, cycloidal gearboxes can be a suitable alternative. Their high torque capacity, rigidity, and service life enable powerful and robust drive solutions.
An Overview of Cycloidal Gears
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions About Cobot Joints
A cobot, short for collaborative robot, is an industrial robot designed to work directly alongside humans. Unlike traditional industrial robots, cobots can be used in a shared workspace without protective barriers, provided they are properly safeguarded. High-performance joints are essential for precise, compact, and dynamic movements. Backlash-free gearboxes with high torque density play a central role in this regard.
Cobot gearboxes must be compact, lightweight, and backlash-free, and offer high torque density. A suitable back-torque is also important for manual teaching. Hollow-shaft solutions allow for internal cable and signal routing. Depending on the application, integrated sensors may also be included.
Compact, lightweight, and backlash-free shaft-type gearheads with high torque density are particularly well-suited for cobots. The appropriate model depends primarily on the installation space, degree of integration, and range of functions. Options include gearhead sets, units, actuators, digital shaft-type gearheads, and short gearheads.
A short-stroke gearbox is ideal when a cobot needs to be designed to be particularly compact and lightweight. The reduced axial length frees up space in the joint. At the same time, the high torque capacity allows for high-performance axes in a confined space and the use of smaller components.
Digital bevel gearboxes measure torque and operating data directly within the gearbox. The sensor technology, which integrates seamlessly regardless of installation space, supports collision, process, and condition monitoring. This makes it possible to detect deviations early, improve process quality, and operate the cobot more efficiently.
Hollow-shaft gearboxes allow cables and signal lines to be routed through the joint in a protected manner. This reduces the number of external cables and enables the implementation of compact shaft architectures.
A gear set offers the greatest design flexibility. A gear unit reduces the effort required for installation and design. Actuators combine gears, motors, sensors, and interfaces into a coordinated drive unit, enabling a particularly high degree of integration.
An appropriate back-torque facilitates manual guidance and teaching of the cobot. We can adjust the back-torque to meet the requirements of the specific application.
