Archimedes drive

 planetary friction transmission

IM Systems, a Dutch company, for example, has reinvented the gear so that it has no teeth. Its product, the Archimedes Gear relies on frictional contact to convert speed into torque using flexrollers made from hollow steel cylinders to compress and transmit the rotational power. While each point of contact isn’t as strong as interlocking mechanical teeth, up to 30 rollers can contribute to the traction.

Interestingly, the Archimedes Drive can reach impressive single-stage reduction ratios of up to 10,000:1, boasts high torque, high accuracy and zero backlash. Its design, using bearing-like components, means that it would not be subject to the same lead times as other solutions and would help to deal with the shortage of gears. The reduction in cost, too, could make them an enticing option for robot manufacturers who require a large number of gears. In addition, the company can design variations of its drives for use in any axis of the robot.