Clean, Quiet, and Safe Motion — Powered by Non-Contact Technology
- No particle generation caused by tooth surface wear
- Lubrication-free operation
- Barrier transmission enables seal-less structures
- Low noise and vibration through non-contact power transmission
- Easier assembly with high angular and eccentric misalignment tolerance
- Magnetic slip under overload helps improve safety
Ideal Industries
- Semiconductor Manufacturing Equipment
- Pharmaceutical, Biotechnology, and Food Processing Equipment
- Medical Devices
- Pumps, Fluid Handling, and Sealed Systems
- Chemical Processing
- Collaborative and Service Robots
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What Are Magnetic Gears?
A magnetic gear (non-contact gear) is a toothless power transmission component that uses the magnetic force generated by permanent magnets such as neodymium magnets to transmit rotational speed and torque between two shafts without physical contact. Because power is transmitted without contact, magnetic gears offer unique advantages over conventional mechanical gears.
Learn more in the “Principle of Magnetic Gears” section below
Left: Conventional spiral bevel gears
Center: Magnetic bevel gears
Right: Magnetic pole configuration
Key Features of Magnetic Gears
No Lubrication Required :
In conventional gears, power is transmitted through direct contact between tooth surfaces, so lubrication is important in many applications. Gear users must address lubrication in their designs by selecting appropriate lubrication methods and lubricants, as well as managing oil starvation and replacement intervals, all of which add effort and cost. In contrast, magnetic gears transmit power without contact, eliminating the need for tooth surface lubrication. This helps reduce maintenance requirements and the associated downtime.Particle-Free Operation :
In conventional contact-type gears, physical contact between tooth surfaces inevitably generates minute wear particles. Furthermore, when lubrication conditions are insufficient, wear is accelerated, which may lead to an increase in particle generation. In high-cleanliness environments, such as those represented by the semiconductor industry, particle contamination originating from gears can become a factor that adversely affects equipment performance and final product quality. In contrast, magnetic gears transmit power without physical contact, thereby fundamentally suppressing particle generation caused by tooth surface wear. This characteristic is considered to provide a significant advantage for applications in clean environments.Ultra-Low Noise and Vibration :
In mechanical design, reducing vibration and noise in drive systems is an extremely important challenge that directly affects product value. Conventional contact gears involve physical tooth engagement and meshing impacts, making it unavoidable for vibration and noise to arise from factors such as machining accuracy, assembly errors, and lubrication conditions. In contrast, magnetic gears transmit power through magnetic interaction, fundamentally eliminating physical contact in the drive transmission. As a result, vibration and noise caused by tooth collision and friction do not occur in principle, enabling an exceptionally high level of quietness that is difficult to achieve with conventional mechanical elements.Through-Barrier Transmission :
Magnetic gears transmit torque without physical contact between the driving rotor and the driven rotor. As a result, power can be transmitted even when a non-magnetic barrier (such as resin or stainless steel) is placed between them. This characteristic enables torque transmission between the motor side and a sealed driven rotor without the need for a physical shaft penetration or sealing mechanism. For example, in food processing applications, the mixing component that comes into contact with the product can be placed within a completely sealed, hygienic environment and driven non-contact from a motor located outside. This eliminates the need for conventional shaft seals, thereby reducing the risk of contamination and improving cleanability. Furthermore, even when the driven component is installed inside a container filled with liquid, power can be transmitted from outside the container without creating any through-holes, which helps reduce the risk of leakage and simplifies the overall structure. It should be noted that the transmitted torque depends on factors such as the distance between the magnets and the material and thickness of the barrier. Therefore, these conditions must be carefully considered during the design process.Built-in Overload Protection :
Magnetic gears feature a built-in torque limiter (overload protection), which is a self-protective function utilizing non-contact power transmission through permanent magnets. Under normal conditions, the input and output shafts rotate synchronously due to the attractive and repulsive forces between magnetic poles, enabling stable torque transmission. However, when the load exceeds the preset transmissible torque, the magnetic coupling disengages and slip occurs, thereby preventing the transmission of excessive torque. This characteristic reduces the impact of overload on the motor and surrounding components during abnormal events such as sudden stops or foreign object intrusion, helping to prevent damage. In addition, because there is no physical contact between teeth, tooth surface damage and the generation of wear particles—common in conventional mechanical gears—are minimized. Furthermore, no additional components such as mechanical torque limiters are required, contributing to more compact designs and a reduction in the number of parts. Another advantage is that once the overload condition is cleared, the system can automatically resynchronize and return to normal operation. In this way, magnetic gears, which integrate both power transmission and protection functions, represent a suitable technology for drive systems in industrial machinery where high reliability is required, while balancing both the advantages and limitations compared to conventional mechanical gears.Ease of Assembly :
Conventional mechanical gears transmit power through direct physical meshing of tooth surfaces, and therefore require high assembly accuracy to ensure stable operation. In particular, precise control of center distance, backlash, and tooth contact is critical. If these parameters are not properly maintained, it can lead not only to tooth surface damage and abnormal wear, but also to increased noise and vibration. Depending on the application, assembly accuracy on the order of microns may be required.In contrast, magnetic gears transmit torque without contact by means of the magnetic force of permanent magnets, reducing the risk of wear and damage caused by physical contact between rotors. They also offer greater tolerance to a certain range of misalignment during assembly, such as deviations in center distance, shaft angular misalignment, and positional offsets. As a result, magnetic gears are generally easier to assemble and maintain compared to conventional mechanical gears.
However, if the air gap between magnetic poles becomes excessively large, the transmissible torque decreases, which may lead to loss of synchronization (slip).
No Heat Generation :
Because it is non-contact, no heat is generated, making it suitable for use in environments where heat must be avoided.
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Magnetic Gear Product Lineup
A combination of a disc and a cylindrical element, equivalent to bevel gears in conventional gearing, used to transmit torque and rotational speed between perpendicular shafts.
(Neodymium magnets)
** Currently, supply is limited due to material shortages **
A combination of cylindrical elements, equivalent to screw gears in conventional gearing, used to transmit torque and rotational speed between skew shafts.
(Neodymium magnets)
** Currently, supply is limited due to material shortages **
A cost-effective version of Magnetic Screw Gears. The magnet portions are epoxy-coated, while the yoke has no surface treatment.
(Neodymium magnets)
Magnet couplings are mechanical components that use magnetic force to transmit power contactlessly between two rotating shafts. The maximum transmissible torque varies depending on the size.
(Neodymium magnets)
Magnetic couplings with a protective cover, designed for transmitting torque across a barrier.
Couplings with a resin (PVC) cover are suitable for acidic environments, while those with a stainless steel (SUS) cover can be used in submerged applications.
(Neodymium magnets)
A coaxial cylindrical magnetic coupling designed to prevent thrust generation, transmitting torque while absorbing axial vibration.
(Neodymium magnets)
Magnetic gears equivalent to conventional spur gears, used to transmit torque and speed between two parallel shafts.
(Neodymium magnets)
Non-contact magnetic variable-speed gears offering a high degree of design flexibility in gear ratios.
(Neodymium magnets)
A cylindrical-type non-contact magnetic transmission gear capable of both speed increase and reduction.
(Neodymium magnets)
Functions as a standard coupling under normal torque conditions. When the torque exceeds the allowable limit, it begins to slip as a torque limiter. Thanks to a specially engineered magnetic material, the slip is smooth and continuous, without the jerky motion typical of conventional mechanisms.
(Neodymium magnets)
Non-contact linear actuators using magnetic force. Ideal for transport applications in cleanroom environments. They require no wiring like conventional linear motors and can be extended to virtually unlimited lengths.
(Neodymium magnets)
A non-contact version of conventional rack and pinion systems, using magnetic force to convert rotational motion into linear motion.
(Neodymium magnets)
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Principle of Magnetic Gears
Magnetic gears are mechanisms that transmit torque without physical contact between teeth, unlike conventional mechanical gears. Instead, they utilize magnetic forces generated by permanent magnets such as neodymium magnets.1. Torque Transmission Mechanism
A typical magnetic gear consists of a pair of rotors with alternating north (N) and south (S) magnetic poles arranged along their circumference. These magnetic poles interact across an air gap, generating attractive forces between opposite poles and repulsive forces between like poles. When the driving rotor rotates, this magnetic interaction transmits torque to the driven rotor, causing both rotors to rotate synchronously without physical contact.
The image shows examples of magnetic gears magnetized with 12 poles.
2. Relationship Between Speed Ratio and Torque
The rotational speed ratio is determined by the ratio of the number of magnetic poles on each rotor.
- Reduction: When power is transmitted from a rotor with fewer poles to one with more poles, the rotational speed decreases and the output torque increases.
- Acceleration: When power is transmitted from a rotor with more poles to one with fewer poles, the rotational speed increases and the output torque decreases.
Thus, as with conventional mechanical gears, speed and torque are generally in an inverse relationship: when rotational speed decreases, torque increases; when speed increases, torque decreases. However, in practical systems, losses may occur, so the actual torque increase may not exactly match theoretical values.
3. Air Gap
In magnetic gears, the transmissible torque depends on the size of the air gap (the distance between the rotors). As the air gap increases, the magnetic flux density decreases, weakening the magnetic interaction (attractive and repulsive forces) between the rotors, and consequently reducing the transmissible torque.
4. Lost Motion
Since magnetic gears do not have physical tooth engagement, they do not exhibit backlash as seen in conventional mechanical gears. However, magnetic gears have a unique phenomenon known as lost motion. Lost motion refers to the delay in the response of the driven rotor when the driving rotor starts or stops rotating. This delay is caused by the elastic nature of the magnetic coupling arising from the attractive and repulsive forces between magnetic poles. The magnitude of this delay varies depending on conditions such as transmitted torque and the strength and size of the magnets. Therefore, in precision positioning applications, it is necessary to consider lost motion in the design.
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Applications of Magnetic Gears
Typical applications of magnetic gears include:
Semiconductor manufacturing equipment
Magnetic gears for semiconductor manufacturing equipment transmit power without contact, which prevents the generation of wear particles and eliminates the need for lubrication, making them well suited for cleanroom environments. In addition, the absence of wear results in a long service life and reduced maintenance requirements. Their low vibration and low noise characteristics also contribute to stable equipment operation. These features make their superior cleanliness and maintainability a key advantage.
Medical devices
Magnetic gears offer key advantages in medical devices through their non-contact drive, which enhances hygiene and safety. Because there is no physical wear, they help reduce the risk of contamination from wear particles and lubricants in surgical equipment and diagnostic systems. In addition, their low noise operation helps ease patient anxiety, and their inherent slip mechanism under overload conditions suppresses equipment damage, contributing to stable and reliable operation.
Food processing machinery
The advantages of magnetic gears in food processing machinery can be summarized in the following three points. First, because torque is transmitted without contact, no wear particles are generated and no lubricating oil or grease is required, thereby helping to reduce the risk of foreign matter contamination in food. Second, the structure includes gaps between components, which provides excellent cleanability and makes it easy to maintain hygienic conditions. Third, in the event of an overload, slipping occurs, which helps suppress the risk of mechanical damage and leads to reduced maintenance effort and cost.
In addition, because they enable non-contact power transmission with no particle generation and no need for lubrication, magnetic gears are widely used in machinery and equipment where cleanliness, sealing performance, low noise and vibration, maintainability, and safety are required.
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Safety Precautions for Use
- Magnetic gears generate strong magnetic forces. Please handle with care to ensure safety and prevent damage to the product.
- Particular caution should be taken to avoid finger injuries caused by pinching between magnetic components.
- Due to the strong magnetic attraction, once magnets come into contact, separation may be difficult. Exercise caution during installation.
Precautions for Magnetic Gear Performance
- Magnetic gears may exhibit lost motion, making them unsuitable for applications requiring precise positioning.
- Performance and allowable torque vary depending on temperature. Please ensure the operating temperature conditions are specified prior to use.
- Corrosion may degrade performance. Please take appropriate measures based on the operating environment.