Theoretical and experimental study for an improved cycloid drive model

This paper describes an experimental and theoretical approach to evaluate cycloid drive reducer efficiency. The tests are carried out on 7.5 kW two-disc cycloid drive with a gear ratio of 19. The torque and speed are measured on the input and output shaft. The efficiency is calculated based on the obtained results. The main goal of the second part of the study is to deduce equations of cycloid reducer in order to predict and analyze experimental results. In this way, the following points are set for the simulation: a working condition in which the input speed and the output load are imposed; then, the output speed is determined by the gear ratio, and finally, the input torque is obtained by solving the dynamic problem. A new model for cycloidal reducers is proposed. This model is based on kinematics and dynamics of rigid bodies and a non-linear stiffness based on contact dynamics. The overall elasticity effects are all condensed between the input shaft and the cycloidal disk. The proposed model allows to predict the efficiency for several operational conditions and offer a drastic reduction of computational costs suitable for the optimization process.