Greetings 2026! As expected, EV demand has waned following some deregulation and tax credits being dropped as of September 2025. For us industry folks, this is simply reality catching up with the narrative. On the plus side, 2025 was a very good year for global vehicle sales–the best since 2019 (Ref. 1). A good economy can forgive many blunders. As gearbox designers, our work continues as our EV offerings are likely a permanent part of our product lineup, even if at a reduced volume. When it comes to single speed offset gearboxes, many OE’s have a similar 3 parallel shaft design, running ratios typically between 7:1 to 15:1. Some higher speed boxes are going above 20:1 ratio now, but the basic architecture is unchanged. The Tesla design shown here is a common baseline design:
Operating for long hours, under extreme loads, in high temperatures and dusty environments, ongoing wear is a significant challenge for open gears. This can lead to unplanned downtime and reduced equipment life—creating a barrier to effective operations. Leading mining and cement companies use advanced grease technology and technical inspections to help prevent open gear failure, optimize service life and ensure the smooth running of their operations.
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Despite a lukewarm sustainability agenda here in the United States, global bearing manufacturers continue to be motivated by eco-friendly technologies, environmental awareness and energy efficiency regulations. Material innovation is one of the key strategies to reduce environmental impact moving forward. Concerns include energy consumption in manufacturing, waste generation, emissions from lubricants and raw material extraction. The end goal is to provide longer-lasting components with less waste.
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The load limit diagram of a motor spindle serves to graphically represent the permissible operating range as a function of parameters such as rotational speed. It enables a quick assessment of the conditions under which the spindle can be operated safely and reliably without exceeding mechanical, thermal or dynamic limits. Such a diagram is a key tool for the design, selection and evaluation of spindle systems in mechanical engineering particularly in the field of machining where high demands are placed on precision, performance and service life.
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Bosch Rexroth continues to expand the ctrlX platform with new capabilities and automation enhancements. The control platform ctrlX COREplus is now available with AI functions on all performance levels. In the area of motion and drives, Bosch Rexroth is presenting compact, energy-efficient, and cabinet-free drives from the ctrlX DRIVE portfolio, which cover virtually all performance ranges. These are complemented by the Motion, CNC, and Robotics software ctrlX MOTION, which is ideal solution for automating production machines and systems. PTE recently had a great conversation with Garrett Wagg, product manager, controls at Bosch Rexroth on new developments in mobile robotics.
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Gear drives are fundamental in most processing operations, connecting the prime mover to the driven equipment and ensuring that the system has enough torque to effectively move product. Correctly specifying and selecting the proper gear drives for critical applications leads to reliability, greater uptime and profitability.
The digital transformation is fundamentally changing the industry, and digital twins play a central role. They enable real-time monitoring of physical systems, simulation of their behavior, and informed decision-making. A dissertation from the TU Darmstadt Institute for Product Development and Machine Elements (pmd) shows how the FVA-Workbench gearbox design software can be implemented as a platform for creating digital twins of industrial gearboxes. The results demonstrate how the combination of detailed modeling, continuous real-time calculations, and engaging dashboard visualization offers an efficient and user-friendly solution for the development of digital twins.
Rolling bearings possess especially low friction characteristics. They make it possible to reduce bearing friction by half, offering the construction machinery sector the opportunity to achieve significant carbon dioxide savings without imposing high development costs. This article will examine the current solutions from Schaeffler.
Technical sales personnel use intelligent features to select suitable motor-gearbox combinations and run calculations based on customer-specific operating data. This provides obvious added value for the customer. Service lives, safeties, and expected loads can all be determined in a short time. Maintenance of the underlying database and the use of simulation tools make it possible to quickly and easily perform technical calculations without having to rely on a central calculation department. In less than a minute, the customer is provided with a data sheet which includes reliable statements about the gearbox based on these technical calculations.
The drive system choice is dependent on key motion features of your application. Lead screws offer self-locking capabilities, while ball screws require brakes to prevent back-driving. The choice between them hinges on efficiency, cost, precision, and speed, with the screw drives themselves paired with a linear guide for optimal performance.
Bellows couplings are commonly used in applications requiring precise rotation, high speeds, and dynamic motion transmission. With zero backlash and a high level of torsional stiffness, they offer clear performance advantages in many servo-driven systems.
The Simplicity self-lubricating linear plain bearings are built to last, and they will often out-perform and last longer than a traditional linear ball bearing. Called the “little red bearing” by loyal customers, they have been a popular replacement for failing ball bearings. Simplicity plain bearings will not catastrophically fail.
The difference between a smooth-running drive and constant headaches? The right timing belt and pulley plus a whole lot more. Discover what works, what doesn’t, and put your design skills to the test—engineer your best system yet!
Discover how Regal Rexnord’s Bauer™ PMSM gear motor helped a transportation company streamline inventory, cut energy use, and save $80,000 annually. Learn how this scalable solution delivers financial, operational, and sustainability gains across facilities.
The dry-running, corrosion-resistant plastic components offered by Igus are ideal for use in the marine and boat building industries. Watch this video to learn some of the specific advantages these components offer, and some of the ways they can be used to improve boat designs.
Mar 11, 2026
ABB Robotics is integrating NVIDIA Omniverse libraries into ABB Robotics’ RobotStudio to help manufacturers deploy physical AI in real world robotics applications.
Nord Drivesystems utilizes data-based simulations for the development of components and drive solutions and recently, to create digital twins for system development. This technology allows engineers to verify early in the planning process whether the drive concept is suitable for the system, significantly reducing project timeline and achieving greater efficiency and availability.
Apr 13, 2026 - Apr 16, 2026
In 2026, AeroDef Manufacturing is represented on the national stage by a multifaceted showcase at RAPID + TCT 2026.
Jun 1, 2026 - Jun 4, 2026
Jun 15, 2026 - Jun 18, 2026
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Power Transmission Engineering is THE magazine of mechanical components. PTE is written for engineers and maintenance pros who specify, purchase and use gears, gear drives, bearings, motors, couplings, clutches, lubrication, seals and all other types of mechanical power transmission and motion control components.
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