High Gear Ratios
With worm gearboxes, high ratios can only be realised with multiple gear stages or motors with low speeds (750 rpm or 1000 rpm), or a combination of the two options. Additional gearbox stages have a negative influence on the level of efficiency, and require more components, the immediate results of which are lower efficiency and higher costs. The same applies to the option of motors with lower speeds. Electric motors with speeds of 750 rpm or 1000 rpm are respectively approx. 250% and 160% heavier, and cost almost 99% and 33%, respectively, more than an electric motor with a speed of 1500 rpm. At an input speed of 750 rpm and a ratio of 200:1, a worm gearbox achieves the same output speed as a TorusGear with an input of 1500 rpm and a ratio of 400:1.