Helical Rack vs. Straight Rack: Achieving Low Noise and Heavy Load in Automated Warehousing & Collaborative Robots
With the rapid growth of global e-commerce logistics and the new energy vehicle industry, Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (AS/RS) are undergoing profound changes in their requirements for drivetrain components. In a recent customer survey conducted by Tianjin Ounaida (TJOND), the application proportion of helical rack systems in collaborative robots and heavy-duty material handling has increased by approximately 40%.
1. Core Advantages of Helical Rack Over Straight Rack
In terms of transmission principle, the meshing process of a helical rack is gradual, resulting in a contact ratio that is 15% to 20% higher than that of a straight rack.
Noise Control: Experimental data shows that at a moving speed of 2 m/s, the operating noise of a helical rack system is 5 to 8 decibels lower than that of a straight rack. In modern human-robot collaboration workshops, this noise reduction significantly improves the production environment.
Load Capacity: Because more teeth are engaged simultaneously, the stress on each individual tooth is significantly reduced. This allows the helical rack to carry a higher load in the same specification, with a service life typically more than 25% longer than that of a straight rack.
2. Industry Application Observations for 2025
According to industry research published by Polaris Market Research in 2025, discrete manufacturing is witnessing the fastest growth in demand for precision gear racks. Particularly in applications of the seventh axis (traveling axis) of robots where transmission distances often exceed 10 meters, helical racks – through precision splicing techniques – enable highly smooth operation over long distances.
3. Key Points for Installation and Maintenance
High-performance precision racks (product link: tjond.com/gear-rack) require precise installation to guarantee performance. If the center distance deviation exceeds 0.05 mm, the wear rate of the rack can double. For large-scale integrated automation production lines, we recommend adopting automatic lubrication systems and periodic tooth line contact inspection to ensure long-term accuracy of the transmission system.
