The largest load-carrying RV reducer is launched, and the RV reducer enterprise "Sweit" emerges as a new force

A reducer is a device that slows down the speed, increases torque and rigidity, and improves the performance. The RV reducer is the core component of the industry to achieve precise operation, which is equivalent to the important "joints" of the human body such as shoulders, elbows, and knees. For decades, its core technology has been monopolized by foreign countries. Since 2012, Hubei Siweit Transmission Co., Ltd., formerly known as Jinghua Reducer, has started to develop RV reducers. After more than two years of research, it successfully developed RV reducers with independent intellectual property rights in 2014, and was identified by the Hubei Provincial Department as "the overall technology has reached the international advanced level". After nearly 10 years of hard work, the RV reducers developed by Jinghua Reducer have developed into 5 series, all of which are in the leading position both internationally and domestically. In 2017, it developed the world's smallest known RV reducer, with a deadweight of only 0.37 kg and an accuracy of less than one twentieth of a hair. Jinghua Reducer now has more than 100 utility model patents and 10 invention patents, and has been rated as a national-level "little giant" enterprise specializing in specialties.

"If we can make the smallest one, we can definitely make the biggest one." After receiving the order for this national key project, Yu Yunqing led the technical team to start a new round of research and development to challenge the "ceiling" of RV reducers.

The world's first 45T cycloidal gear reducer was delivered and made in China. On May 11, 2023, the world's first 45T cycloidal gear reducer was officially delivered and shipped at the manufacturing park of Hubei Siwei Transmission Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as Siwei Transmission). The multifunctional arm of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor will use Chinese "joints".

It is reported that this cycloid gear reducer (also known as RV reducer) is designed to be the "joint" of the multifunctional robotic arm in the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor. It is the world's first maximum load RV reducer that integrates high precision, large reduction ratio and ultra-large torque , marking a major breakthrough in China's RV reducer field. The reducer was jointly developed by the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences and SVT Transmission over a period of three and a half years. As a precise power transmission mechanism, the RV reducer is the core component and is known as the "joint" of industrial robots. The above-mentioned 45T cycloid gear reducer has a maximum load capacity of 450,000 Newton meters, and the load-bearing equipment error does not exceed 5 arc minutes. It will be used on multifunctional heavy-load robotic arms in nuclear environments.

According to Yao Damao, a researcher at the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, the "International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (IR) Project" is currently one of the world's largest and most far-reaching international scientific research cooperation projects. Among them, the multifunctional heavy-load robotic arm used for the maintenance of the internal components of the experimental reactor has a diameter of about 750 mm, a length of about 11 meters, and a terminal load of 2.5 tons. Due to the special extreme environment inside the experimental reactor, the working accuracy of the robotic arm is extremely high, which is a complex test for the reducer inside the robotic arm. "It requires the reducer to have high precision, ultra-large torque and a large reduction ratio at the same time, which is very difficult." Yao Damao said. In order to overcome this problem, the technical teams of both sides started from the material selection link and continuously carried out destructive tests to test its density, rigidity and overall combination of purchased parts. After hundreds of failures and the replacement of nearly 50 materials, the right material was finally found. The 45T cycloidal gear reducer delivered this time not only realizes the full coverage of the company's RV reducer from the world's smallest to the world's largest, but also provides a new solution for the application and development of robots in future nuclear radiation environments, which has positive significance for promoting the use of human nuclear energy.

As one of the largest RV reducer manufacturers in China, the R&D team of SVT Transmission began to focus on the R&D of RV reducers as early as 2013. After nearly ten years of scientific research, it broke the monopoly of foreign technology in one fell swoop, and has now formed a strong pedigree of more than 300 varieties in 6 series. "The future prospects of domestically produced independent industrial robots are huge, which is a major benefit to us." Yu Yunqing is full of confidence in future development. At present, the company has undertaken a national key 3D printer manufacturing project, which has been running smoothly for 3 years. Orders from many high-end important fields such as machine tools and medical treatment continue to emerge. This year's output will reach 100,000 units, an increase of more than 40%.

RV reducer company "Sweit" emerges as a new force

At the end of 2018, a Hubei company named Siweit came out of nowhere, determined to become a leading domestic RV reducer company. What is the origin of this company and what is its confidence? In fact, Siweit in 2018 was not really born out of nowhere. Hubei Siweit Transmission Co., Ltd. was developed from Wuhan Jinghua Reducer Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

1995: Wuhan Jinghua Reducer Manufacturing Co., Ltd. was formally established. It is a comprehensive enterprise specializing in the research and development and production of various general and special reducers.

2015: The company launched the SWT-RV series robot joint reducers into the market. In the same year, it participated in the major special project evaluation of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and achieved a certain reputation.

2018: Jinghua Company separated the RV reducer division and established Hubei Siwei Transmission Co., Ltd.

The company's team has been focusing on the research and development of reducers for more than 20 years and has professional production experience in cycloid gears and planetary gears. The company's main product industry has a leading market share. It has a core R&D team of 24 people, and its core technical equipment includes more than 20 advanced processing equipment such as Swiss high-precision gear grinding machines, German coordinate grinders, and Japanese high-precision grinders; core testing equipment includes German high-precision three-coordinate measuring machines and German high-precision gear testers.

In terms of software, the company has been promoting 5S lean production for more than 20 years, building an ERP real-time efficiency monitoring system, improving production efficiency while focusing on the construction of a standardized quality system.

Hubei Siwei Transmission Co., Ltd. will continue to be committed to the research and development of high-precision precision reducers, continuously bring high-quality products to the market, and create the future with science and technology.

"Siweite Transmission Company is an independent company from Wuhan Jingmei Enterprise, in order to focus more on making RV reducers and create a more high-end image." Yu Yunqing, general manager of Hubei Siweite Transmission Co., Ltd., told the New Strategy Robot All-Media reporter.

Yu Yunqing introduced that the research and development of products in the fields of high-end automation, robotics, manufacturing, etc. is the main development direction of Siweit. Close to the world's most cutting-edge precision transmission technology and selecting the world's top series of equipment for fine processing have enabled them to release some good products. Siweit currently has more than 70 series of RV reducers, all of which are high-precision reducers with cycloid pinwheels, hardened tooth surfaces, and two-in-one reducer mechanisms.

This type of high-precision reducer has a large number of meshing teeth, is small and lightweight, and has good acceleration performance, which can achieve smooth operation and obtain correct position accuracy. SVT also stated that it can meet the design and use needs of users through the combination of different high-quality raw materials and precision accessories. The most outstanding product of SVT is that its SWTRV-BK series and SWTRV-BZ series products can replace harmonic reducers, and their performance is better in comparison.

The reason why Siweite has attracted a lot of attention as soon as it appeared is that its "three highs and one low" corporate advantage is its edge. High-end equipment: At present, Siweite has two gear grinding machines worth 17 million yuan. The six core parts are all produced by the world's top equipment, and the assembly standard is less than 1 thread (0.01mm). High-end talents: It has brought together 5 academicians and nearly 30 professional senior technical talents, and dozens of national patents. Efficient experience: The original Wuhan Jinghua has more than 30 years of experience in reducer manufacturing. Low product price: cost advantage, high cost performance.

High-precision RV reducers have become the mainstream precision reducers for articulated robots. With the continuous popularization of industrial intelligence, the RV series reducers for industrial robots will have a market demand of tens of billions of yuan in the future. SVT Transmission hopes to take advantage of the opportunity of localization development to contribute to the substantial development of domestic RV reducers.

Reviewing Editor: Huang Fei