Slew Drive

Slew drives are an update to worm drive mechanisms and are made for applications that need rotational torqueand load holding in the same gearbox. Zenith drive is professional slew drive manufacturer delivering different types of slew drives that are customizable for many industries such as solar tracker manlift, drilling rig, heavy machinery and more. We will work alongside you throughout the entire process, from design to implementation, to ensure total satisfaction.

What is slew drive?

A slew drive, also known as a slewing drive, is a mechanical component that combines a slewing bearing and a gear mechanism, such as a worm gear or a planetary gear. The purpose of a slew drive is to provide controlled rotational movement with high torque capabilities while supporting substantial axial, radial, and tilting moment loads. Slewing drives are widely used in heavy-duty applications requiring precise rotation and positioning, such as solar tracking systems, cranes, excavators, and wind turbines. Across different applications, a slew drive can also be known as worm gear slew drive, slewing drive, turret bearing, worm drive, rotational unit and many other slewing product labels.

Features and components of Slew Drive

Slewing bearing: The slewing bearing is a rotational bearing designed to support heavy axial, radial, and tilting moment loads simultaneously. It comprises an inner and outer ring with rolling elements, typically balls or cylindrical rollers, located between them. The slewing bearing allows for smooth rotation under heavy loads.

Gear mechanism: A slew drive typically employs a gear mechanism, such as a worm gear or a planetary gear, to convert the input motion (usually from a motor) into the required rotational movement. The gear mechanism also determines the gear ratio, which affects the output torque and rotation speed.

High load capacity: Slew drives can support sizable loads while maintaining smooth and stable rotation, making them suitable for heavy-duty applications.

Precision motion: The gear mechanism in slew drives helps provide smooth, controlled, and precise movement, enabling accurate positioning in various applications.

Robustness and durability: Slew drives are often engineered to be robust and durable, capable of withstanding challenging environmental conditions and delivering reliable performance over time.

Self-locking: Some slew drives, particularly those featuring worm gears, have self-locking capabilities, meaning the gear mechanism cannot be back-driven. This feature maintains the position of the load without continuous power consumption.

Types of Slew Drive

Slew drives come in various types to cater to the specific requirements of different applications. The primary distinction between slew drive types is based on the type of gear mechanism employed. Here are some of the common types of slew drives:

Worm gear slew drive: Worm gear slew drives utilize a worm gear mechanism to transfer torque and rotation. The worm gear has a helical thread that meshes with a mating gear, called the worm wheel. This type of slew drive offers high reduction ratios, increased torque capacity, precise movement control, and self-locking capabilities.

Planetary or spur gear slew drive: These slew drives use either planetary or spur gears to transfer torque and rotation. In a planetary gear system, a central "sun" gear is surrounded by multiple "planet" gears mounted on a carrier, which in turn meshes with an external "ring" gear. A spur gear system uses two straight-toothed gears with parallel axes. Both planetary and spur gear slew drives offer high reduction ratios and efficiency, but typically do not have the self-locking ability found in worm gear slew drives.

Dual-axis slew drive: Dual-axis slew drives are typically used in applications that require movement in two axes, such as solar tracking systems. These drives consist of two separate slew drives mounted perpendicularly to each other, providing independent rotational motion on both axes. Each drive can have either worm gears, planetary gears, or spur gears.

Single-axis slew drive: Single-axis slew drives provide rotational motion in one axis only, making them suitable for applications like cranes, excavators, wind turbines, or single-axis solar trackers. They can employ either worm gears, planetary gears, or spur gears, depending on the specific requirements of the application.

Slew drives with integrated motors: For easy integration into equipment and enhanced system control, some slew drives come with integrated motors. These motors can be hydraulic, electric, or even stepper motors, depending on the intended application and desired level of control.

The selection of the appropriate slew drive type depends on factors such as required load capacity, precision, reduction ratio, self-locking ability, and the intended application's environmental conditions.

Applications of Slewing Drive

Slewing drives are widely used in various industries for applications requiring precise rotation, high load-carrying capacities, and controlled movement. Some common applications of slewing drives include:

Solar tracking systems: Slewing drives are essential components in both single-axis and dual-axis solar tracking systems that maintain optimal orientation of solar panels or concentrators as they follow the sun's movement throughout the day.

Wind turbines: Slewing drives are used in wind turbine nacelles to rotate the turbine and align it with the wind direction, maximizing energy capture and efficiency.

Cranes and lifting equipment: Slewing drives are used in various cranes, such as mobile cranes, tower cranes, and crawler cranes, to provide controlled rotation and positioning of the boom and other components.

Excavators and construction equipment: Excavators use slewing drives to rotate the upper structure (cab, boom, and arm) relative to the undercarriage, providing precise and stable movement during digging and loading operations.

Material handling and automation: In material handling equipment and automation systems, slewing drives can be used for controlled rotation in applications such as robotic arms, turntables, and jib cranes.

Satellite dishes and antennas: Slewing drives are employed in satellite dishes and antenna systems to enable precise positioning and orientation, ensuring optimal signal reception and transmission.

Telescopes and observatories: Slewing drives are used in large telescope systems to provide accurate positioning and rotation, allowing for precise celestial object tracking and observation.

Marine applications: Marine equipment like ship cranes, offshore drilling platforms, and subsea equipment use slewing drives for precise positioning, stable rotation, and heavy load support in various applications.

Defense systems: Military and defense-related applications, such as radar and missile launcher systems, utilize slewing drives for accurate positioning and orientation control.

Price of Slewing Drive

The price of a slewing drive can vary significantly based on factors such as the type (worm gear, spur gear, or planetary gear), size, load capacity, brand, material, and additional features. As a rough guideline, slewing drive prices can range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars or more. If you would like to know the price of slew drive, feel free to get a quote from us.

Slew Drive Supplier

Zenith Drive is a slew drive supplier, offering various types of slewing drives suitable for a wide range of applications in different industries. As a supplier, they provide various slew drives based on factors such as gear type (worm gear, spur gear, or planetary gear), size, and load capacity to cater to customer requirements.

Some of the industries and applications that Zenith Drive could supply slew drives for include:

Solar tracking systems

Wind turbines

Cranes and lifting equipment

Excavators and construction equipment

Material handling and automation

Satellite dishes and antennas

Telescopes and observatories

Marine applications

Defense systems

To learn more about Zenith Drive's product range, pricing, and specifications, feel free to request a product catalog, or reach out to their sales team directly.