The basics of a gear motor

The following are the basic principles in gear motor operation:
 

Power Source:

A gear motor can run on either an alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC) electric motor. The output range of a gear motor can be between 1, 200 and 3, 600 revolutions per minute or RPM.  The gear box operates to reduce the RPM to produce different torque at the end of the shaft.

Speed Specifications:

There are two basic speed specifications for a gearbox, namely the normal speed and the stall speed. These torque specifications essentially assist in the creation of torque. This is done through a series of integrated gears attached to the main shaft and rotor mechanism. The attachment is done through a reduction shaft between the gearbox and the drive shaft. In essence, the gears reduce the speed but increases torque, with the final output in the end.

Applications:

A gear motor is often found in many home electrical appliances. These include can openers, control knobs in washer and dryer machines, alarm clocks and garage door openers. Commercially, a gear motor is often found in motorized hospital beds, heavy-duty cranes and commercial lifters or jacks.

As can be seen, the principles of gearbox operations stem from the power source and its speed specifications. Because of the myriad of applications this system can operate in, many gearboxes can be found in both residential and commercial settings. The key here is the gearbox’s ability to reduce speed while also increasing the force produced for the mechanical equipment.