Research on Performance Test System of Space Harmonic Reducer in High Vacuum and Low Temperature Environment

• Main Authors: Jing Wang, Zhihua Wan, Zhurong Dong, Zhengguo Li
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-12-01
• Series: Machines
• Subjects: space harmonic reducer; high vacuum; transmission accuracy; backlash; efficiency
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1702/9/1/1

The harmonic reducer, with its advantages of high precision, low noise, light weight, and high speed ratio, has been widely used in aerospace solar wing deployment mechanisms, antenna pointing mechanisms, robot joints, and other precision transmission fields. Accurately predicting the performance of the harmonic reducer under various application conditions is of great significance to the high reliability and long life of the harmonic reducer. In this paper, a set of automatic harmonic reducer performance test systems is designed. By using the CANOpen bus interface to control the servo motor as the drive motor, through accurately controlling the motor speed and rotation angle, collecting the angle, torque, and current in real time, the life cycle test of space harmonic reducer was carried out in high vacuum and low temperature environment on the ground. Then, the collected data were automatically analyzed and calculated. The test data of the transmission accuracy, backlash, and transmission efficiency of the space harmonic reducer were obtained. It is proven by experiments that the performance data of the harmonic reducer in space work can be more accurately obtained by using the test system mentioned in this paper, which is convenient for further research on related lubricating materials.