Choosing the wrong slew drive risks machinery failure and downtime. Focus on these 5 parameters to match your operational demands:

5 Critical Selection Criteria

1. Load Capacity:

   • Calculate combined axial, radial, and moment loads.

   • Overload safety margin ≥ 1.5x max operational load.

2. Torque & Speed:

   • Use: *Torque (Nm) = [9,549 × Power (kW)] / Speed (rpm)*.

   • Low-speed drives (<5 rpm) suit heavy lifting; high-speed for solar tracking.

3. Environmental Resistance:

   • IP65+ rating for dust/moisture protection.

   • Corrosion-resistant coatings (e.g., zinc-nickel) for offshore/marine use.

4. Gear Efficiency:

   • Worm gears: 60-90% efficiency; planetary gears: >95% (high-precision needs).

5. Certifications:

   • CE, ISO 6336 (gear standards), DNV-GL for marine applications.

Case Study: A German wind turbine manufacturer reduced failures by 30% after switching to slew drives with 20-year design life ratings.

Conclusion
Partner with suppliers offering finite element analysis (FEA) reports and real-world testing data to validate performance claims.