EP-AFR Series Right-Angle High-Rigidity Output Shaft Planetary Gearbox (EP-AFR042 to EP-AFR220, and EP-AFXR Variant)

Ο EP-AFR series right-angle high-rigidity planetary gearbox is the product specified when a machine design simultaneously requires a 90-degree direction change between the motor and the load, and direct shaft-end mounting of a gear, pulley, sprocket, or cam that imposes radial force on the output shaft. Where the EP-ABR right-angle series uses a standard-diameter shaft suitable for coupling-connected loads, EP-AFR's enlarged shaft handles the combined bending and torsion loading of direct-mounted transmission components at the right-angle output — without a separate bearing housing to carry the radial load.

All P0/P1/P2 backlash grades, the complete i=3–10 single-stage range, and all 17 two-stage ratios from i=12 to i=100 are available across all eleven EP-AFR frames. The EP-AFXR variant provides the same high-rigidity right-angle specification up to 1,200 N·m in ten frame sizes (no AFXR220).

The difference between EP-ABR and EP-AFR is the output shaft structural capacity. When the right-angle output shaft transmits only torque to a coupling-connected load, the standard shaft of EP-ABR is the correct and cost-appropriate specification. When the right-angle output shaft must simultaneously carry torque and radial force because a transmission component is mounted directly on the shaft end, EP-AFR's enlarged shaft is the mechanically correct choice.

EP-AFR — Full Range

EP-AFXR — Reduced Torque Variant

Packaging Machine Corner Drives — Right-Angle Belt

Korean VFFS and HFFS packaging machine designs frequently locate the forming tube drive motor perpendicular to the film-pull belt axis, reducing machine height and allowing the motor to be positioned in the bottom cabinet. EP-AFR provides the 90-degree direction change from the perpendicular motor to the timing-belt-driven film-pull rollers — with the enlarged shaft carrying the belt tension radial force at the right-angle output. AFR075 and AFR100 P1 at i=5–25 cover the majority of Korean VFFS film-pull drive requirements. Pairs with precision CV drive shafts for dual-motor configurations requiring torque sharing between two AFR units.

Printing Register Corner Gear Drive — P0 Right-Angle

Korean web-fed printing press register correction axes that use an open gear pair at 90 degrees to the servo motor — motor mounted across the press width, gear-driven register roller perpendicular — require a right-angle gearbox that carries the gear mesh separating force at the right-angle output shaft without deflection. EP-AFR075 P0 at i=10–32 serves Korean offset and flexographic press register axes, where the ≤1 arcmin P0 grade prevents backlash-induced colour register variation and the enlarged shaft maintains gear centre distance constancy through press-speed transients.

Conveyor Corner Chain Drive — Right-Angle Sprocket

Korean automated assembly and logistics conveyor systems that change direction at a 90-degree corner use EP-AFR to drive the chain sprocket at the corner station — the servo motor is perpendicular to the conveyor chain axis, and the sprocket is mounted directly on the EP-AFR right-angle output shaft. Chain tension acts as a radial force on the output shaft; the enlarged shaft absorbs this without an outboard bearing housing at the corner station, reducing the conveyor corner unit's axial depth and maintenance schedule.

CNC Machine Tool Auxiliary Drives — Right-Angle at Tight Spaces

Korean machining centre chip conveyor drives and coolant pump drives positioned inside the machine column use EP-AFXR at small frame sizes (042, 060) where the motor must be perpendicular to the conveyor or pump shaft in a constrained machine cavity. The enlarged shaft carries the impeller or auger shaft radial load directly at the 90-degree right-angle output — eliminating the separate bracket-mounted bearing that would otherwise be required in the confined machine base space.

Textile Corner Drives — Right-Angle Winding Roll

Korean knitting and weaving machine winding roll drives where the motor cannot be positioned behind the roll axis — machine structural members block the axial direction — use EP-AFR to place the motor alongside the machine frame perpendicular to the roll axis. The large winding roll is mounted directly on the AFR right-angle output shaft; its weight acts as a static radial force and its rotating mass adds a dynamic radial component. AFR140 P1 at i=20–50 covers Korean industrial textile winding machine torque requirements at this layout. Self-locking holding via worm gear reducers for vertical roll configurations.

Agricultural Seeder Head — Right-Angle Direct Disc Mount

Korean precision agriculture seeder head drives where the seeder disc is mounted directly on a right-angle output shaft — the servo motor positioned along the boom frame, the seeder disc rotating perpendicular to it — use EP-AFXR for the compact right-angle high-rigidity drive. The disc weight and seed distribution reaction force act as a radial load on the right-angle shaft; the enlarged shaft absorbs this. Integration with agricultural bevel gearboxes for multi-row seeder configurations extends the single EP-AFXR output to multiple seeder heads.

• ✔Enlarged right-angle output shaft diameter and runout verified against drawing per batch
• ✔Backlash P0/P1/P2 measured at right-angle output shaft — bevel stage included, certified per unit
• ✔Output shaft 90° perpendicularity to motor flange face verified
• ✔IP65 ingress test per IEC 60529 — every unit, single housing sealing both planetary and bevel stages
• ✔Material certificate and dimensional drawing with every delivery

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EP-AFR100 P1, i=20 for the vertical film-pull drive on our VFFS machine — horizontal servo motor driving a vertical timing-belt pulley pair. Previously used EP-ABR at the same position with an outboard bearing; the outboard bearing was a maintenance point that required monthly grease inspection and showed accelerated wear at the belt-tension loading. EP-AFR's enlarged shaft absorbed the belt tension without a separate bearing housing. Film-pull alignment has been stable for 21 months — no tension adjustments required. Korea Ever-Power confirmed the belt radial force was within the AFR100 shaft rating before we finalised the specification. 21 months, 9 machines, zero output shaft issues.

EP-AFR075 P0, i=25 for a register correction gear drive on a UV flexographic press — servo motor at 90 degrees to the register roller gear, direct gear mounting on the right-angle output shaft. The previous design used EP-ABR with a separate gear shaft and outboard bearing; centre-distance variation from the outboard bearing deflection was causing colour register shift at speed. With EP-AFR direct gear mounting on the enlarged shaft, the gear centre distance is fixed by the gearbox casting — no bearing deflection path. Register variation reduced from ±0.12 mm to ±0.03 mm at press speed. P0 at 90 degrees is exactly what this application needed. 18 months, 5 press lines.

EP-AFXR100 P2, i=35 for 90-degree corner chain sprocket drives on an automotive parts accumulation conveyor — 22 corner units, servo-driven, chain sprocket directly on the right-angle output shaft. Using AFXR instead of AFR because we only need 900 N·m and the AFXR's smaller footprint at AFXR100 fits the conveyor corner housing. Previous corners used EP-ABR with outboard bearing; bearing replacement was scheduled every 8 months on the high-chain-tension corners. AFXR has now run 16 months on all 22 corners without a single bearing change. The chain tension radial load calculation from Korea Ever-Power confirmed AFXR100 was within shaft rating — we would not have been confident specifying without that review.

CV Joint Drive Shafts

For dual-drive EP-AFR right-angle configurations where two gearbox units share load on a common shaft, and for EP-AFR output configurations where an offset between the gearbox right-angle output and the driven shaft is required — precision CV joint drive shafts transmit torque through the angular and parallel offset without introducing additional radial force on the EP-AFR enlarged output shaft.

Worm Gear Reducers

For vertical EP-AFR right-angle applications where the direct-mounted load must be held in position on servo power-off — vertical winding rolls, vertical column sprocket drives — a downstream self-locking worm gear reducer provides gravity load holding without an electromagnetic brake, while the EP-AFR enlarged shaft carries the radial load from the direct-mounted transmission component above it.

Agricultural Gearboxes

For Korean precision agriculture right-angle direct-drive seeder head systems where EP-AFXR provides the right-angle high-rigidity drive stage and downstream agricultural bevel gearboxes distribute the output to multiple seeder heads along the boom, Korea Ever-Power's agricultural gearboxes complete the drive train from the EP-AFXR enlarged right-angle output shaft to the final working elements.

QCan I mount a belt pulley directly on the EP-AFR right-angle output shaft? Do I need an outboard bearing?

Yes, belt pulleys and gears can be mounted directly on the EP-AFR right-angle output shaft — this is the specific design intent of the high-rigidity enlarged shaft. For the majority of standard belt drive applications within the rated radial load capacity, no additional outboard bearing is required. However, the actual radial force at the shaft end depends on belt type, pulley radius, transmitted torque, and the distance from the gearbox face to the pulley centre. Korea Ever-Power provides a pre-order radial load review for EP-AFR applications — confirm your pulley dimensions and belt tension with the Korean application team before specifying, particularly for larger pulleys at longer shaft overhangs.

QAre EP-AFR and EP-ABR output shaft diameters different at the same frame number?

Yes. EP-AFR's enlarged output shaft has a larger diameter than the standard output shaft of EP-ABR at a comparable frame size. The bore of a gear, pulley, or cam specified for EP-AFR will not match the shaft diameter of EP-ABR at the same frame number. Additionally, EP-AFR and EP-ABR use different body diameter scales (AFR: 075/100/140; ABR: 090/115/142 as middle frames), so the frame numbers are not directly comparable. Always use dimensional drawings from Korea Ever-Power to confirm shaft diameter and key dimensions before designing the mating component.

QDoes the bevel stage in EP-AFR affect the backlash specification?

No — the P0/P1/P2 backlash values are the total measured backlash at the right-angle output shaft, with the bevel stage contribution already included in the measurement. The ≤1 arcmin P0, ≤3 arcmin P1, and ≤5 arcmin P2 single-stage specifications are verified on the enlarged right-angle output shaft itself, not on an intermediate shaft. This is the same approach as EP-ABR and EP-ADR.

QWhen should I choose EP-AFXR instead of EP-AFR?

Choose EP-AFXR when your required output torque is within 1,200 N·m and the AFR220 frame size would be unnecessarily large for your machine. At frames 042–180, AFXR and AFR are physically identical — same enlarged shaft, same flange dimensions, same ratios and grades. If the torque requirement falls between 1,200 N·m and 2,000 N·m, or if the application specifically requires the AFR220 frame, then EP-AFR is required. EP-AFXR cannot substitute for EP-AFR at the 220 mm frame size.

QMy application requires a right-angle high-rigidity shaft drive with IP67 for a washdown environment. Is EP-AFR available with IP67?

EP-AFR and EP-AFXR are IP65 only — IP67 is not available in the AFR/AFXR series. If IP67 right-angle output is required, the only available Korea Ever-Power right-angle precision series with IP67 is EP-AER, which uses a large flange and a fixed ≤8 arcmin backlash (no P0/P1/P2). If your application simultaneously requires right-angle output, high-rigidity shaft for direct-mounted radial loading, IP67 protection, and P0/P1 precision, these requirements cannot all be met by a single product in the current Korea Ever-Power standard catalogue — contact Korea Ever-Power to discuss whether a project-specific configuration is feasible for your application volume.