A New Device for Converting Rotary Motion into Linear Motion Study of Rotary-to-Linear Harmonic Drive (Harmonic Linear Drive)

摘要

This paper describes a new concept for linear motion based on the similar theory of strain wave gearing, which has been used for more than forty years by Harmonic Drive Systems Inc. Gear teeth are replaced by screw threads and rotation of the input side generates linear translation at the output. Besides design flexibility and reasonable costs, the new rotary-to-linear harmonic drive has shown promising potential in positioning accuracy as well as in high load capacity. It is able to compete (and to surpass in some features) with ball screw or lead screw systems.