Worm Drive Gearbox & Worm Gearbox Suppliers

A locked, screw-shaped worm ‘mates’ with a worm wheel connected to it at a right angle. Input power to the worm makes it turn thus generating power to the worm wheel. 

What’s the ultimate benefit? By utilising this method, a worm gearbox can do one of two things: drastically increase torque or drastically reduce speed.

Worm gearboxes have wide-ranging applications including:

• rolling mills
• escalator drive systems
• elevator drive systems
• presses
• conveyors
• small machinery
• all kinds of mining applications
• all kinds of manufacturing applications
• all kinds of packaging applications

• A non-throated worm gearbox is a worm with no grooved mechanism
• A single-throated worm gearbox has curved, helical teeth around the worm
• A double-throated worm gearbox has curved teeth on both the gear and worm screw

Essentially, the same questions apply to worm gearbox purchases as any gearbox:

• What will the worm gearbox be used for?
• What is the desired input speed and horsepower?
• What output speed or torque is required?
• What’s the optimal unit configuration?
• What unit orientation is required?
• Are there any special material requirements – rust-resistant paint, stainless steel?

In the grand scheme of things, worm gearboxes are pretty affordable and don’t vary much in price. In fact, the cheapest worm gearbox is about $700, the most expensive only $200 more at around $900.

Worm gearboxes are like all gearboxes, sturdy but totally dependent on the right amount of lubrication. So what happens if a worm gearbox gets insufficient lubricant or, potentially worse, the wrong lubricant?

• A new worm gearbox is run without any lubricant at all. This a real trap for new buyers in the worm gearbox market. Most worm gearboxes are shipped without lubricant to minimise weight, cut down on shipping costs and ensure the receiver uses local, standardized lubricants. The unwitting receiver of the worm gearbox then runs it dry and the gearbox fails. 
• A worm gearbox is run with insufficient lubrication. This is potentially the most damaging scenario for a worm gearbox as everything can seem fine for a while. A gearbox mounted worm-under needs about 50% more lubrication than a worm-over gearbox. If the operator doesn’t know this, the output shaft bearings will soon run dry and the worm will turn rather badly. Be sure to fully understand a worm gearbox’s configuration to avoid serious failure in a new unit.  
• A worm gearbox is run with the wrong lubricant. Gearbox manufacturers recommend specific lubricants for their gearboxes for good reason: they’ve been tested and found to perform better and last longer. Equally, lubricants containing sulphur or chlorine can play havoc with a worm gearbox’s steel worm and bronze gear. Always use the recommended lubricant. 

Worm gearboxes and bearing housings need a complete flush and refill once in a while. You can generally tell when the time has come when the sump starts to overheat or there is an overabundance of sludge and rust. 

Flushing removes any accumulations of contaminants, water and solid matter from the gearbox via a process of clean fluid circulation.