Bodine Electric Company recently upgraded the design of many of our type WX gearmotors to increase the output torque ratings while maintaining the same long-life rating. Two parts in the gearhead design were changed to accomplish the higher torque ratings: the rotor/armature shaft and the first stage gear. The rotor is the name for the rotating part in an AC Induction motor or a Brushless DC motor. The armature is the name for the rotating part in a Brushed DC motor. Regardless of what it’s called, that rotating part, when in a parallel shaft gearmotor like Bodine’s type WX gearmotor, has a shaft with a pinion cut on the end that engages with the first stage gear in the gearhead.
Achieving smooth and continuous torque requires careful consideration of the design and manufacturing techniques, gear materials, and heat treatment processes. Since the rotor/armature shaft pinion is subjected to significantly more load cycles than the mating first stage gear, it is common practice to design the pinion with a higher hardness than the gear. For the type WX gearmotors, Bodine Electric engineers raised the bar by choosing a pinion steel alloy with higher hardenability and a gear steel alloy with higher fatigue strength.
This design change allowed Bodine to raise the output torque rating for any WX gear ratio where the first stage of the gearing cluster had been the “weak link”. This included all of the two-stage ratios used in Bodine stock models (3.8:1, 5.5:1, 9.4:1, 13.8:1, and 20.4:1) and two of the three-stage ratios used in Bodine stock models (29.7:1 and 43.9:1).
The following tables show the specific torque rating changes for each stock model number that was affected.
Bodine Electric types 34R4BFPP-WX2 and 34R4BFPP-WX3 are powered by Three Phase AC, either direct from the line or from an adjustable frequency drive (inverter). The only models shown in the table below are those that had a change in nameplate ratings.
| Model No. | Gear Ratio (:1) | Old Torque Rating (lb-in) | New Torque Rating (lb-in) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2808 | 43.9 | 157 | 185 | +18% |
| 2809 | 29.7 | 106 | 150 | +42% |
| 2829 | 20.4 | 77 | 109 | +42% |
| 2830 | 13.8 | 46 | 70 | +52% |
| 2831 | 9.4 | 31 | 45 | +45% |
| 2832 | 5.5 | 18 | 26 | +44% |
| 2833 | 3.8 | 9 | 18 | +100% |
AC Single Phase Models
Bodine Electric types 34R6BFCI-WX2 and 34R6BFCI-WX3 are powered by single phase 115 VAC and require a capacitor for operation. The only models shown in the table below are those that had a change in nameplate ratings.
| Model No. | Gear Ratio (:1) | Old Torque Rating (lb-in) | New Torque Rating (lb-in) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1023 | 43.9 | 157 | 185 | +18% |
| 1021 | 29.7 | 106 | 128 | +21% |
| 1019 | 20.4 | 77 | 93 | +21% |
| 1016 | 13.8 | 46 | 59 | +28% |
| 1014 | 9.4 | 31 | 38 | +23% |
| 1012 | 5.5 | 18 | 22 | +22% |
| 1010 | 3.8 | 9 | 15 | +67% |
Brushed DC 24 Volt Models (also rated for 12 Volts)
Bodine Electric types 33A5BEPM-WX2, 33A5FEPM-WX2, 33A5BEPM-WX3, and 33A5FEPM-WX3 are powered by a low voltage DC supply, often a battery. The 24 VDC models can also be operated from 12 VDC, but at a much lower speed. They are offered both with and without a high speed accessory shaft for mounting a brake or encoder. The only models shown in the table below are those that had a change in nameplate ratings.
| Model No. (with & w/o accessory shaft) | Gear Ratio (:1) | Old Torque Rating (lb-in) | New Torque Rating (lb-in) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1412 / 1212 | 43.9 | 157 | 181 | +15% |
| 1410 / 1210 | 29.7 | 106 | 151 | +42% |
| 1408 / 1208 | 20.4 | 77 | 110 | +43% |
| 1406 / 1206 | 13.8 | 46 | 70 | +52% |
| 1404 / 1204 | 9.4 | 31 | 45 | +45% |
| 1402 / 1202 | 5.5 | 18 | 26 | +44% |
| 1400 / 1200 | 3.8 | 9 | 18 | +100% |
Brushed DC 130 Volt Models (also rated for 90 Volts)
Bodine Electric types 33A5BEPM-WX2, 33A5FEPM-WX2, 33A5BEPM-WX3, and 33A5FEPM-WX3 are powered by a 130 VDC supply, usually coming from a 115 VAC powered speed control. The 130 VDC models can also be operated from 90 VDC, but at a lower speed and torque (if the speed control has an unfiltered DC output). They are offered both with and without a high-speed accessory shaft for mounting a brake or encoder. The only models shown in the table below are those that had a change in nameplate ratings.
| Model No. (with & w/o accessory shaft) | Gear Ratio (:1) | Old Torque Rating (lb-in) | New Torque Rating (lb-in) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1442 / 1062 | 43.9 | 157 | 181 | +15% |
| 1440 / 1060 | 29.7 | 106 | 144 | +36% |
| 1438 / 1058 | 20.4 | 77 | 104 | +35% |
| 1436 / 1056 | 13.8 | 46 | 67 | +46% |
| 1434 / 1054 | 9.4 | 31 | 43 | +39% |
| 1432 / 1052 | 5.5 | 18 | 25 | +39% |
| 1430 / 1050 | 3.8 | 9 | 17 | +89% |
Brushed DC 90 Volt Models & 180 Volt Models
Bodine Electric types 33A5BEPM-WX2 and 33A5BEPM-WX3 are powered by either a 90 VDC supply or a 180 VDC supply, depending on the model number. In either case, the DC supply usually comes from an AC-powered speed control (with the AC power being either 115 VAC or 230 VAC). The only models shown in the table below are those that had a change in nameplate ratings.
| Model No. (90 Volt & 180 Volt) | Gear Ratio (:1) | Old Torque Rating (lb-in) | New Torque Rating (lb-in) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1251 / 1154 | 13.8 | 39 | 41 | +5% |
| 1248 / 1150 | 3.8 | 9 | 11 | +22% |
Brushless DC 24 Volt Models
Bodine Electric types 34B3BEBL-WX2, 34B3FEBL-WX2, 34B3BEBL-WX3, and 34B3FEBL-WX3 are used with an electronic control for brushless commutation that is powered by a 24 VDC supply, often a battery. They are offered both with and without a high-speed accessory shaft for mounting a brake or encoder. The only models shown in the table below are those that had a change in nameplate ratings.
| Model No. (with & w/o accessory shaft) | Gear Ratio (:1) | Old Torque Rating (lb-in) | New Torque Rating (lb-in) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1316 / 1286 | 43.9 | 157 | 180 | +15% |
| 1315 / 1285 | 29.7 | 106 | 121 | +14% |
| 1314 / 1284 | 20.4 | 77 | 88 | +14% |
| 1313 / 1283 | 13.8 | 46 | 56 | +22% |
| 1312 / 1282 | 9.4 | 31 | 36 | +16% |
| 1310 / 1280 | 5.5 | 18 | 21 | +17% |
| 1309 / 1279 | 3.8 | 9 | 15 | +67% |
Brushless DC 130 Volt Models
Bodine Electric types 34B3BEBL-WX2, 34B3FEBL-WX2, 34B3BEBL-WX3, and 34B3FEBL-WX3 are used with an electronic control for brushless commutation that is usually powered from a 115 VAC line. They are offered both with and without a high-speed accessory shaft for mounting a brake or encoder. The only models shown in the table below are those that had a change in nameplate ratings.
| Model No. (with & w/o accessory shaft) | Gear Ratio (:1) | Old Torque Rating (lb-in) | New Torque Rating (lb-in) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1116 / 1086 | 43.9 | 157 | 180 | +15% |
| 1115 / 1085 | 29.7 | 106 | 121 | +14% |
| 1114 / 1084 | 20.4 | 77 | 88 | +14% |
| 1113 / 1083 | 13.8 | 46 | 56 | +22% |
| 1112 / 1082 | 9.4 | 31 | 36 | +16% |
| 1110 / 1080 | 5.5 | 18 | 21 | +17% |
| 1109 / 1079 | 3.8 | 9 | 15 | +67% |
Brushless DC 12 Volt Models with Integral Control
Bodine Electric types 34B4BEBL/SR-WX2 and 34B4BEBL/SR-WX3 have integral electronic controls for brushless commutation and for speed control that are powered by a 12 VDC power supply, often a battery. The only models shown in the table below are those that had a change in nameplate ratings.
| Model No. | Gear Ratio (:1) | Old Torque Rating (lb-in) | New Torque Rating (lb-in) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3286 | 43.9 | 157 | 180 | +15% |
| 3285 | 29.7 | 106 | 121 | +14% |
| 3284 | 20.4 | 77 | 88 | +14% |
| 3283 | 13.8 | 46 | 56 | +22% |
| 3282 | 9.4 | 31 | 36 | +16% |
| 3280 | 5.5 | 18 | 21 | +17% |
| 3279 | 3.8 | 9 | 15 | +67% |
Brushless DC 24 Volt Models with Integral Control
Bodine Electric types 34B4BEBL/SR-WX2 and 34B4BEBL/SR-WX3 have integral electronic controls for brushless commutation and for speed control that are powered by a 24 VDC power supply, often a battery. The only models shown in the table below are those that had a change in nameplate ratings.
| Model No. | Gear Ratio (:1) | Old Torque Rating (lb-in) | New Torque Rating (lb-in) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3886 | 43.9 | 157 | 181 | +15% |
| 3885 | 29.7 | 106 | 153 | +44% |
| 3884 | 20.4 | 77 | 111 | +44% |
| 3883 | 13.8 | 46 | 71 | +54% |
| 3882 | 9.4 | 31 | 46 | +48% |
| 3880 | 5.5 | 18 | 27 | +50% |
| 3879 | 3.8 | 9 | 18 | +100% |