CompoTech, Czech Technical University in Prague, Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials and Samyang reduction gear Co have joined hands in a project to design and produce a hybrid metal-composite gearbox. It will have decreased mass by 25 per cent and also reduced noise. Financial support for the project has come from the Czech Technology Agency.

The project has been running since 2016 and is expected to be complete by October 2019.

The goal of the project is to develop lightweight high-speed gearbox for application in electromobiles. The gearbox main body will be made of composite materials with metal inserted for bearing surfaces.

CompoTech designed and produced upper part of the gearbox case and is producing the lower (more complex) part. The test shafts for strength and fatigue were also developed by CompoTech. The gearbox case and shafts consist of many parts, which are adhesively bonded. Therefore test samples with various types of adhesives and adherents were designed, produced and tested to support the design of the gearbox.

CTU in Prague supports the design and development with tests and FE analysis. Korean partners provide the technical specification of the gearbox and will finish, assemble and test the gearboxes. (SV)