Gears in actuators

The proportion of electronic and electromechanical components in vehicles has been growing continuously for years. The increased comfort and the growing safety requirements promote this development. The cable harness, which is responsible for supplying all these components, is the second heaviest component in many motor vehicles, right after the engine. Actuators make up a large share of the elements to be supplied with power and signals. The small units convert electrical signals and pulses into mechanical movements and are responsible for actuation of the throttle valve(s) during acceleration, the automatic closing of boot lids and doors or the shifting and positioning of a seat. The areas of application are manifold, actuators can be found in all areas of the vehicle.   

Amongst other things, gears with usually complex geometries are responsible for movement and the transmission of force. To increase actuators' efficiency and minimise noises, igus has also been offering gears and gearing elements since 2020 that are made of well-known, tribologically optimised iglidur materials and have been specifically tested in the igus laboratory.
Thanks to the innovative formulations of the iglidur high-performance polymers, we achieve smoother operation, lower torque and lower power consumption in the drive unit with improved material properties.   
 
The aim is to eliminate the greases used in the assembly process.  This is to prevent failures due to missing, incorrectly dosed or fluid grease. The manufacturing process of an actuator is simplified and less expensive.