ZF Gearheads Used to Detect Galaxy Clusters
According to the companys press release, the gearmotors were incorporated into the drive system in five stages and a final drive pinion was arranged to a slewing ratio of 5.5:1. This was done to achieve the required reduction ratio of 100,000:1.
The selected servo motor was geared down into two close coupled dual stage 70:1 planetary gearheads. The PG units were used primarily because they offered backlash levels of less than 2 arc minutes and a high degree of torsional rigidity.
PG gearheads use grease as a lubricant and can be mounted in any orientation on the equipment.