Installation Steps for Slewing Drives

What is Slewing Drive

The slewing drive device is a device that integrates a rotary deceleration drive system, and it has its own drive system inside. At its core, it is constructed with a slewing ring bearing, which acts both as a drive follower and as a mechanical interface. In its operating mechanism, the drive train is connected to the inner or outer ring of the slewing ring bearing, while the other ring acts as a drive follower and is also the base for the load connection. This design is extremely exquisite, making full use of the characteristics of the full cycle rotation of the slewing ring bearing, effectively integrating the power source, transmission components and bearing structure, and then forming a modular transmission device with rotary motion, deceleration and torsional increase and power drive functions. The typical structure of the rotary drive has the technical advantages of compact layout, high transmission efficiency, convenient installation and maintenance, so it can be widely used in the field of industrial equipment that requires high-torque rotary transmission.

Features of Slewing Drive

Compact structure: The integrated drive system and bearing structure eliminate the need for independent support components in the traditional drive chain, greatly reducing the installation space.

High transmission efficiency: The power is directly transmitted through the inner and outer rings of the bearing, reducing the energy loss of the intermediate links, and the efficiency can reach more than 85%.

High torque output: Worm gear or planetary gear reduction structure enables torque output from 500 N·m to tens of thousands of N·m.

High-precision positioning: Bearing preload design and transmission clearance control technology ensure repeatable positioning accuracy of ±0.05°.

Modular design: drive units, bearings, seals, etc. can be replaced independently, and the maintenance cost is low.

High reliability: The fully sealed structure has an IP65 protection level, which is suitable for dust, humidity and other harsh working conditions.

The Principle of Slewing Drive

The slewing drive takes the slewing plate bearing as the core, and the rotary transmission is realized through the following steps:

Power input: The motor drives a worm or gear to transmit rotational motion to the inner or outer ring of the bearing.

Reduction and torque increase: The worm is meshed with the worm gear (or planetary gear) to convert the high-speed low torque into low-speed high torque through the reduction ratio.

Rotation transmission: the bearing fixing ring is connected with the frame, and the driven ring is rigidly connected with the load through the flange to directly output the rotary motion.

Cyclic support: The rolling elements (balls/rollers) inside the bearing circulate between the inner and outer ring tracks, while subjecting to axial, radial, and overturning moments.

Installation Steps for Swing Drives

The steps for installing a slewing drive in industrial equipment are as follows:

1. Preparation before installation

Check the installation base: make sure the base is flat and no deformation, and clean the surface oil and debris.

Check the model parameters: confirm that the specifications and installation dimensions of the rotary drive device match the equipment.

Prepare tool materials: including torque wrench, level, dowel pin, lubricant and sealant, etc.

2. Positioning and fixation

Pre-positioning: The slewing drive is gently placed on the base and the position is initially fixed by means of dowel pins or pilot holes.

Calibration level: Use the spirit level adjustment device to ensure that it is parallel to the base plane with an error of ≤ 0.1mm/m.

Bolt tightening: Tighten the fixing bolts diagonally and step by step to the specified torque (refer to the equipment manual) to avoid stress concentration.

3. Transmission system alignment

Check the alignment of the input shaft: use a laser alignment instrument or dial gauge to calibrate the coaxiality of the motor and the worm shaft, and the deviation is ≤ 0.05mm.

Adjust the output connection: Make sure that the load flange is rigidly connected to the driven ring to avoid eccentricity or tilting.

4. Bearing preload and seal

Apply preload: Adjust the bearing clearance according to the design requirements, and apply the preload through the lock nut or hydraulic device to ensure flexible rotation without jamming.

Sealing treatment: Apply sealant to the joint surface and install a sealing ring to prevent lubricant leakage and foreign matter ingress.

5. Lubrication and testing

Lubricant injection: Add grease or lubricating oil according to the instructions to ensure that each transmission component is fully lubricated.

No-load test run: 10-15 minutes of low-speed idling, monitoring temperature, vibration and noise, and gradually loading after confirming that there is no abnormality.

6. Load debugging and locking

Loading test: Gradually increase the load to the rated value to check the torque output, rotational smoothness and positioning accuracy.

Final fixation: After confirming that all parameters are normal, tighten the bolt again and mark the anti-loosening mark to complete the installation.

Precautions

It is forbidden to knock on the bearings or transmission parts to avoid damage to the internal structure.

When installed vertically, additional reinforcement supports are required to prevent axial deviation due to gravity.

After installation, the bolt tightness and lubrication status need to be checked regularly. (Note: The specific steps need to be adjusted according to the equipment model and the installation manual provided by the manufacturer.) ）

Slewing Drive Supplier

LTZC is a professional manufacturer of slewing drives, providing high-quality slewing drives with accuracy covering four levels of accuracy: Po, P6, P5 and P4. Executive standard: general bearing GB/T307, slewing drive JB/2300, shipbuilding industry CB/T3669, machinery industry JB/T10471, wind turbine bearing B/T10705. In 2003, it passed the SO9001 quality system certification.