Possibilities of Using Selected Additive Methods for the Production of Polymer Harmonic Drive Prototypes

This article includes an analysis of the possibility of using polymer materials for the production of harmonic drive. The use of additive methods greatly eases and accelerates the manufacturing of the flexspline. In the case of gears made of polymeric materials using rapid prototyping (RP) methods, the problem is often with their mechanical strength. In a harmonic drive, the wheel is uniquely exposed to damage, because during work, it deforms and is additionally loaded with torque. Therefore, numerical calculations were conducted using the finite element method (FEM) in the Abaqus program. As a result, information was obtained on the distribution of stresses in the flexspline and their maximum values. On this basis, it was possible to determine whether a flexspline made of specific polymers could be used in commercial harmonic drives or whether they were only adequate for the production of prototypes.