The difference between service factor and safety factor

The words "service factor" and "safety factor" are often mentioned in the maintenance and selection of gearboxes. The words are similar meaning in gearboxes usage and selection, but their meanings are completely different. Understanding their meanings can help you choose the correct gearbox model to avoid high maintenance costs. Next, let's start by knowing the definitions of the two words respectively.

1.Safety factor:

The safety factor evaluate the load ability of gearboxes structure and materials, ensuring overloading working. It’s definition is that the rate of the theoretical loading capacity of the material and the actual working stress. The main consideration is the material strength limit. The reason to know the safety factor is to ensure structural safety.

2.Service factor:

The service factor is an unstable data, according to actual working environment (for example: working temperature, working duration and continuous duty), it will change the rated torque, so that it will be closer to the practical wear condition. The definition of service factor is how much degree will practical working environment influence the lifetime of gearboxes. The main considerations are the working conditions, start-stop frequency and actual load. The purpose of understanding this data is to more accurately assess the actual service life of the reducer.

3.Difference

• Focus: The safety factor is used to check whether the structure design of gearboxes are workable, and the service factor are used to check the life time of reducer.
• Application: The safety factor is used in the structural design and material selection of reducers, The service factor is used for the selection of gearboxes.
• Conclusion: The safety factor is judged whether a reducer can be produced, and the service factor is judged whether the reducer could use longer time.