MANUFACTURING OF THE TRACTION DRIVE WITH THE GLASS-FIBER EPOXY COMPOSITE-MATERIAL

A new traction drive mechanism, which delivers power from its input sh aft to its output shaft using friction produced by the elastic ring, w as designed and manufactured with the glass fiber epoxy composite mate rial. The major speed reduction of the traction drive is originated fr om the circumferential difference between the flexspline and the elast ic ring, which is 1 similar to 10 % of the circumference of the elasti c ring. Then the speed reduction of the flexspline is 10 similar to 10 0 times. The flexspline in the traction drive should be flexible in th e radial direction to produce the friction between its surface and the surface of the elastic ring but should be stiff in the tangential dir ection to transmit accurate rotational motion. Since the conventional isotropic materials such as the steel and the aluminum cannot meet the se stiffness requirements simultaneously, the glass fiber epoxy compos ite material was adopted to directionally tailor the stiffnesses. To e liminate wear of the composite flexspline, a thin ring of the same axi al length of the elastic ring was manufactured with the high strength steel and adhesively bonded to the flexspline. The stress of the compo site flexspline was calculated by finite element method and the assemb led traction drive was statically and dynamically tested in order to a ssess the vibration and fatigue characteristics.