Media, Entertainment & Creative Technology

Precision gearboxes for smooth, repeatable motion in rides, animatronics, stage automation and camera platforms.

Reliable Motion For The Show

Show Systems

Rides, motion simulators and stage machinery repeat the same heavy moves every show. Compact RV-N gears give each axis high torque and rigidity.

Rotating stages and moving scenery
Backlash less than 1 arc-min on RV-N models
Hollow shaft RV-C option for cable routing

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Animatronics

Animatronic figures and robotic camera heads need fine moves from a small drive. Strain Wave Gear Sets offer zero backlash and high torque for their size.

Figure joints and camera positioning heads
Zero backlash and excellent repeat accuracy
Gear Sets Plus include the output bearing

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Smooth Motion

In a show, motion quality is visible to every guest. In RV gears, rolling contact keeps breakaway torque very low and the two-stage reduction reduces vibration, so slow moves, starts and stops stay smooth.

For camera heads and animatronic figures, strain wave gears add zero backlash for fine, precise moves.

Shock Loads

Ride vehicles, motion bases and moving scenery stop hard when an emergency stop triggers. The cycloidal RV-N Series keeps many teeth in contact at once and offers an E-stop capacity of 5x rated torque.

Include emergency stop torque in your sizing data so the gear is checked for the worst case, not only the running load.

Compact Size

Animatronic figures and camera heads leave little room for the drive. Strain Wave Gear Sets build into your own design with small dimensions and low weight, and Gear Sets Plus add a tilt-resistant output bearing so they are ready to install.

Strain wave gears can also be tailored in geometry, interfaces and performance to suit a custom figure.

Hollow Shafts

Turntables, rotating stages and camera platforms need power, data and control lines to cross the axis. The RV-C Series keeps the accuracy, rigidity, torque and load support of the RV design and adds a hollow shaft for cables and piping.

Routing lines through the center keeps them out of sight and away from moving scenery and riders.

Selection Guide

Entertainment and creative technology projects mix heavy loads, tight spaces and motion that has to look right every time. Work through these points for each axis before you size a gear. Your answers narrow the catalog to a short list of models to compare.

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Map the motion profile per axis

List speeds, accelerations and how many cycles each move runs per day.
Repeat counts and duty cycle drive the gear size and service life.
Include peak and E-stop loads

Note the torque during hard starts, stops and emergency stops.
Cycloidal RV gears offer high shock-load capability for these events.
Match the gear type to the axis

Strain wave gears suit compact joints, figures and camera heads.
RV gears suit heavy axes such as rides, stages and motion bases.
Plan cable routing and space

Decide which lines must pass through each rotating axis.
Hollow shaft RV-C and strain wave options leave room for cables.
Plan for maintenance access

Show equipment often sits behind scenery or inside ride vehicles.
Ask our engineers about lubrication intervals for your duty cycle.

Your Partner For Entertainment

Nabtesco Motion Control offers ride, stage and camera builders cycloidal RV gears and Strain Wave Gear Sets. RV gears bring high torque and shock-load capability, and strain wave gears add zero backlash.

Tell us about your show and motion profile and we will help you choose the right gear.

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Our Solutions

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Strain Wave

Gear Sets

Component set and the simplest variant of the strain wave gear, with solid or hollow shaft.

Product Features:

Flexible integration
Precise and dynamic
Individually customizable

Custom Solutions

RV-N Series

The RV reduction gear, already a top seller in robotics, made more compact and lighter

Product Features:

Backlash less than 1 arc.min.
Lost motion less than 1 arc.min.

Strain Wave

Gear Sets Plus

Strain wave component set with solid or hollow shaft, including the output bearing.

Product Features:

Ready-to-install strain wave gears
Incl. tilt-resistant output bearing
Reduced design and assembly effort

Custom Solutions

RV-C Series

Hollow shaft model of the RV reduction gear, the series with the world's top market share

Product Features:

Hollow shaft construction
Backlash less than 1 arc.min.
Lost motion less than 1 arc.min.
Internal main bearing

Custom Solutions

RV-E Series

Basic model of the RV reduction gear, the series with the world's top market share

Product Features:

Backlash less than 1 arc.min.
Lost motion less than 1 arc.min.
Internal main bearing

How Can We Support You?

Here for engineers and robot technicians.

Designing machines, servicing robots or building mechatronic systems? Our application engineers help you select, size, integrate and maintain the right gear.

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