Planetary Gearboxes

Festo Planetary Gearboxes

Festo planetary gearboxes are engineered to provide high torque output, precise motion control, and durable performance across demanding industrial applications. Built on the planetary (epicyclic) gear principle, they allow a compact footprint while achieving high gear ratios—and thus significant speed reduction combined with torque multiplication. 

These gearboxes are available in single-stage or two-stage variants with gear ratios such as 3:1, 4:1, 5:1, 7:1, 12:1, 16:1, 20:1, 25:1, 35:1 and 40:1 depending on the size and variant.  They feature high efficiency (up to ≈98 %), low torsional backlash, and a degree of protection of IP54, making them highly reliable under industrial conditions. 

⭐ Important: The planetary gear architecture ensures compact size with high torque density, very low backlash, and excellent repeatability—ideal for precision positioning, drive systems and automated machinery.

Design & Functionality

Planetary gearboxes transmit torque through a central sun gear, multiple planet gears, and a ring gear—allowing the planet gears to orbit (or “planet”) around the sun gear, thereby delivering large gear ratios in a compact package. This structure enables high torque transmission while maintaining structural stiffness and low wear.

Available variants include:
• Straight-through planetary gear units for direct motor coupling
• Right-angle gear units for space-saving installations
• Models with varying flange sizes and motor interfaces to match Festo servo motors, stepper motors or integrated drives. 

⭐ Important: The availability of both straight and right-angle configurations, together with many gear ratios, provides flexibility to adapt to varying machine layouts and performance requirements.

Total Crossed Beams

(Functional coverage of gearbox families)
These gearboxes cover a broad performance range—from compact servo gear units through to heavy-duty industrial modules. They ensure full operational capability regardless of load profile, gear ratio or mounting space constraints. Their standardized interfaces and modular design simplify integration across different systems.

Beam Pitch Options

(Translated as: gear ratio options, flange / size options, motor interface options)
A broad selection of gear ratios (for example 3:1, 5:1, 12:1, 20:1…) allows machine designers to fine-tune output speed and torque to application demands. 
In addition, flange sizes (e.g., Ø 40 mm, 60 mm, 80 mm, 120 mm) and motor interfaces support matching to Festo servo motors, stepper motors or integrated motor + gearbox systems. 

⭐ Important: The wide range of gear ratios and interfaces ensures the gearbox can be optimally selected for performance (torque & speed), space constraints and system integration.

Intrinsic Synchronism

The internal gear train design provides synchronized motion with minimal torsional play (i.e., low backlash) and high torsional rigidity, ensuring accurate motion transfer and positioning. Some variants achieve torsional backlash as low as 0.12° and torsional rigidity in the single-digit Nm/arcmin range. 
This ensures consistent, repeatable output motion and supports precision automation and drive systems.

Operational Advantages

• High continuous and peak output torque for demanding applications
• Compact design for space-constrained installations
• Low maintenance thanks to lifetime lubrication and robust construction
• High efficiency for energy-sensitive systems
• Standardized interfaces for quick integration into automation systems
Applications: Robotics, machine tools, conveyor drives, packaging systems, handling automation, servo/stepper drive systems.