Have tried at least four gearhead motor from various source and found the motor noise too great for the quiet application. Is the 12 volt 120 RPM Motor 64:1 silent running? I assume the higher the price, the better the gearing and quality of components.
Unfortunately very few motor manufacturers provide the noise rating (decibels) for their motors. Even supposedly “silent” ones still generate some noise. Normally planetary gearing is more efficient than spur gearing and tends to generate less noise. The type of DC motor will also have an impact (cored vs. coreless, brushed vs brushless). Plastic gearing tends to be quieter, but transmits less torque. Good grease in the gears helps a lot.
Thank you. I am going to try your 12V, 165RPM 680.5oz-in Precision Planetary Gearmotor.
Thoughts for silent running?
John
If you’re prepared to void the warranty, re-greasing the planetary gears with better grease will likely have the best impact. Do some research to find which grease is best for metal gears, and in what quantity.
Next, look for some acoustic foam and wrap some around the motor and gear box (leaving the vents free for hot air to escape). Check this and ensure the motor does not get hotter than if the foam was not in place.
It will be hard to get it down to perfectly silent given the technology involved (the motor itself is likely only around 85% efficient, and each planetary gear stage is likely only 90% efficient) - meaning a lot of energy goes into heat and noise (not just rotational motion).
You can get quieter DC gear motors from Maxon and Faulhauber, but the price can be… high … to say the least.