WX & WO Series Worm Gear Reducer

WX and WO drive two shafts from one motor — both bores share the same worm wheel, so speed synchronisation is exact by design, not by chain maintenance. WO exits co-axially; WX routes the second bore 90°. Through-shaft input means the motor goes on whichever side the machine allows. Sizes 40–155, W-series dimensional footprint.

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Description

 The WX & WO Series Worm Gear Reducer are the dual-output hollow-bore members of the W family — the same pairing that the WPX and WPO provide within the WP series, but built on the W series dimensional convention with its larger housing proportions and deeper bearing spans. The WO presents two co-axial hollow bore outputs on opposite faces of the housing; the WX routes one output at 90° to the other. Both variants carry the W series’ through-shaft solid input, meaning the motor couples to either side of the reducer while the two hollow bores seat directly onto their respective driven shafts. The result is a right angle worm gearbox configuration that eliminates all output couplings, drives two loads at guaranteed synchronous speed, and retains the motor positioning flexibility that the W series is known for — all within the dimensional footprint that legacy Australian plant was designed around. Sizes 40 through 155 cover the full range from small indexed positioning drives to medium-duty twin-shaft conveyors and agricultural twin-rotor implements.

Technical Specifications — WX & WO Series Worm Gear Reducer

WO Series — Shaft Configuration

Solid through-shaft input (either side) + twin co-axial hollow bore outputs on opposite housing faces. Both bores rotate at identical speed. Suits parallel twin-driven loads in legacy W series machine envelopes.

WX Series — Shaft Configuration

Solid through-shaft input (either side) + dual hollow bore outputs at 90° offset. One output co-axial with input axis; second output exits perpendicular. Suits L-shaped twin-drive layouts.

Size Ratio A (mm) B (mm) BC (mm) E1 (mm) Input HS (mm) Output LS (mm) Output S (mm) Weight (kg)
40 1/10–1/60 148 123 45 72 25 28 14 4.2
50 1/10–1/60 175 145 50 90 30 40 17 6.5
60 1/10–1/60 195 165 55 102 40 50 22 9
70 1/10–1/60 234 195 65 120 40 60 28 14
80 1/10–1/60 264 210 70 140 50 65 32 21
100 1/10–1/60 322 253 90 165 50 75 38 33
120 1/10–1/60 385 285 100 195 65 85 45 51
135 1/10–1/60 435 320 110 230 75 95 55 75
155 1/10–1/60 494 392 140 250 85 110 65 115

Sizes 40–155
Ratio 10:1–60:1
Dual Hollow Bore Output
Through-Shaft Input
WO: Co-Axial / WX: 90°
W-Family Dimensional

WX Series dual output 90° worm reducer
WO Series co-axial dual output worm reducer

Three Capabilities in One Sealed Housing

The WX/WO series solves three configuration challenges simultaneously: it drives two loads from a single motor at guaranteed synchronous speed, it shaft-mounts directly onto both driven shafts eliminating all output couplings, and it accepts motor input from either side of the housing. No combination of standard single-output reducers achieves all three without external splitter chains, separate output coupling guards, and a fixed motor position constraint.

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Factory-Guaranteed Synchronous Twin Output

Both hollow bore outputs share the same worm wheel — speed ratio between them is exactly 1:1 with zero accumulated phase error. Chain-drive synchronisation between separate reducers accumulates error from chain stretch and sprocket wear; the WX/WO eliminates this entirely.

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Motor on Either Side — W Series Heritage

Through-shaft input — both input stubs are active. Motor couples to whichever side suits the machine layout. In legacy W series equipment where motor position was fixed by structural design, this flexibility avoids a machine redesign when replacing the reducer with a dual-output variant.

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No Output Couplings — Both Shafts Direct

Both hollow bores seat directly onto their driven shafts — two coupling bodies, two coupling guards, and two alignment procedures are removed from the system simultaneously. In food-grade environments, this eliminates two catch points and two contamination gaps from the machine’s external surface.

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Self-Locking at ≥ 30:1 — Both Outputs Hold

The worm mesh self-locking holds both output bores simultaneously on power-off. In twin-auger grain handling systems, both auger shafts are held stationary against full-column grain weight at shutdown — no separate brake required on either shaft.

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WX 90° Geometry — L-Layout Without External Bevel

The WX secondary bore exits at 90° to the primary — an internal geometry that avoids an external bevel stage for L-shaped twin-drive arrangements. Agricultural spreader rotors, poultry processing corner transfers, and packaging corner conveyors all use this geometry without additional gearbox stages.

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W Series Footprint — Legacy Compatible

The WX/WO housing follows W series external dimensions — A, B, and foot pad configuration match the W series convention. Existing W series machine mounts accommodate the WX/WO without baseplate modification when upgrading from single-output to dual-output drive.

WO vs WX: Choosing the Correct Dual-Output Geometry

Criterion WO (Co-Axial) WX (90° Offset)
Output bore geometry 180° — opposite faces 90° — perpendicular
Best application layout Parallel in-line twin drives L-shaped corner drives
Bore load symmetry Opposing — partially cancel Asymmetric — check OHL per bore
Internal bevel stage None Built-in (2–4% added loss)
Typical applications Twin augers, fermentation paddles, matched conveyors Spreader rotors, poultry transfers, packaging corners

The Torque Sharing Rule — Most Common Specification Error

Both output bores share the same worm wheel. The rated output torque is the combined figure across both bores — not the per-bore figure. If each driven shaft requires T (Nm), the WX/WO must be sized for 2T combined output torque at the selected ratio. Applying the rated torque figure to each bore independently is the most common sizing error with dual-output units and leads to premature worm wheel failure within one or two seasons.

Correct Sizing Procedure

  1. Calculate T1 and T2 (Nm) for each driven load — apply shock service factor per shaft independently
  2. Sum: T_combined = T1 + T2 — this is the figure to compare against the WX/WO rated output torque
  3. Select WX/WO size where rated output torque ≥ T_combined at the selected ratio
  4. Verify thermal rating at T_combined / (ratio × η) input power in actual ambient temperature
  5. Confirm total torque sizing; a 60%/40% uneven load split is acceptable as long as T1 + T2 ≤ rated combined

Application Environments — Where WX/WO Eliminates Multi-Unit Complexity

  • 🌾 Twin-Auger Grain and Seed Handling (WO)
    WO size 100–120 at 30:1–40:1 drives matched grain auger screws from a single motor through co-axial bores. Both screws run at exactly matched speed — eliminating grain bridging from differential auger speed. Through-shaft input accommodates motor positioning to clear the hopper structure on either side.
  • 🚜 Agricultural Twin-Rotor Spreaders (WX)
    WX size 80–100 drives the spreader rotor and cross-conveyor chain from a single input. The 90° output geometry suits the spreader layout without an external bevel stage. Through-shaft input allows the PTO shaft to connect on either side of the machine chassis. For PTO shaft sizing guidance, refer to our agricultural PTO shaft technical resources.
  • 🍇 Fermentation Tank Dual-Paddle Agitators (WO)
    WO top-mounted on a fermentation tank lid drives two paddle shafts entering from opposite tank faces. Both paddles receive identical torque and speed. Through-shaft input allows the motor to be positioned clear of the tank top pipework on either side without changing the reducer orientation.
  • 📦 Packaging Machine Infeed/Outfeed Pair (WO)
    WO size 60–80 at 20:1 drives matched infeed and outfeed belt conveyors from a single motor. Eliminates two independent motor-reducer pairs and their individual VFDs — motor positioning flexibility accommodates the constrained side of the machine frame.
  • 🏭 Poultry Processing Line Corner Transfers (WX)
    WX size 60–80 drives an overhead shackle conveyor (primary bore) and a 90°-direction cross-transfer conveyor (secondary bore) from a single washdown-rated motor. Through-shaft input allows the motor to be positioned on whichever side clears the process line infrastructure.

Input Options and Drive Accessories

Motor + Jaw Coupling (Standard)

Couple any IEC or NEMA motor to either input stub via a jaw coupling. Cap the unused stub with the supplied blanking cap and lip seal. The total input power must cover the combined load of both driven shafts divided by the worm mesh efficiency at the selected ratio.

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PTO Shaft + Slip Clutch (Agricultural)

PTO shaft with yoke coupling to input stub. Fit a friction slip clutch rated at 1.5× combined input torque — critical because a jam on one output shaft can concentrate full motor torque at the jammed bore while the other continues running.

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Dual Shrink Discs (Shock Loads)

Both output bores require locking elements. For shock-load applications, specify shrink discs for both bores — uniform radial clamping prevents the progressive set screw loosening that repeated shock torques cause in either bore independently.

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Dual Torque Arms (Shaft-Mount Config)

In shaft-mount configuration, both bore output shafts react torque in the same rotational direction — their torque arm loads are additive on the housing. A dual-bushed torque arm must carry the combined reaction torque of both output shafts plus the motor + reducer weight moment.

Pressure-Equalising Breather

The WX/WO has three shaft penetrations (one input each side + two output bores). Positive housing pressure from continuous duty causes oil weeping at the bore seals. A breather vent at the filler port prevents this — particularly important in the WX where the 90° bore geometry creates additional dynamic oil splash patterns.

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Unused Input Blanking Cap

The unused input stub must be capped and sealed at all times. The WX/WO has four potential contamination entry points (two input stubs, two output bore ends) — the blanking cap and both bore end seals must be inspected at each scheduled oil change and replaced at the first sign of lip wear or hardening.

Maintenance Schedule — WX/WO Four-Penetration Sealing Protocol

Interval Task WX/WO-Specific Note
First 500 hours Oil flush; all four penetration seals + blanking cap Inspect both output bore end faces for early fretting signs — rust-brown powder at bore end indicates inadequate locking force
Every 2,500 hours Oil change; inspect all seals; both shrink disc re-torque Replace blanking cap lip seal proactively — in dusty environments, do not wait for visible contamination signs
Every 5,000 hours Remove both bores from shafts; full contact zone inspection WX: check both bore zones individually — the 90° bore experiences different dynamic loads from the co-axial bore and may wear at different rates
If one bore jams Full worm wheel inspection before return to service Full motor torque concentrated at jammed bore can damage worm wheel even if motor trips promptly — inspect regardless of apparent outer condition
Worm gearbox precision manufacturing facility

For WX/WO bore sizing, torque arm design assistance, and application selection support for Australian plant, the engineering team at our worm gearbox technical portal can provide combined torque calculations and dimensional drawings. For agricultural PTO integration guidance, contact us via the technical enquiry page with your driven shaft diameters and combined load torque.

Frequently Asked Questions — WX & WO Series

1. Can each WX/WO output bore carry the full rated combined torque independently?
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No — both bores share one worm wheel. The rated output torque is the combined total across both bores. If one bore is unloaded, the other can carry the full rated combined torque. If both are loaded, T1 + T2 must not exceed the combined rated figure. Sizing each bore against the full rated torque independently results in a 2× overload on the worm wheel and premature bronze wheel failure.
2. How does the WX 90° secondary bore affect efficiency compared to the WO?
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The WX secondary bore is driven through an internal bevel gear pair, adding approximately 2–4% power loss at the secondary output versus a co-axial WO bore at the same combined torque. In most applications this falls within the service factor margin already applied and does not require changes to the input motor sizing. The efficiency difference should be confirmed at the selection stage for continuous-duty applications at high combined load — at 40:1 ratio in 40°C Australian ambient, the additional 2–4% heat generation from the WX secondary bevel stage may be relevant to the thermal rating assessment.
3. Can the WX/WO run with one bore left disconnected from its driven shaft?
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Yes — the disconnected bore rotates freely and the unit functions as a single-output reducer. The thermal rating in this mode is lower than the dual-load case (only one driven load contributing to input power demand), which is typically a more favourable operating scenario. Ensure the disconnected bore is still secured with its locking element to prevent the bore from floating axially under vibration, and confirm the disconnected driven equipment cannot back-drive the bore at ratios below 30:1 where back-driving is mechanically possible.
4. How does the WX/WO differ from the WPX/WPO in the same size number?
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The WPX/WPO and WX/WO are dimensionally different despite carrying the same nominal size number. The W series housing is taller relative to centre distance (larger H dimension), has a deeper bore section (larger HL), and uses a through-shaft input rather than a solid stub — whereas the WPX/WPO has a solid single-ended input shaft. The WX/WO is the correct replacement for legacy WX/WO machines; the WPX/WPO is the correct specification for new-build designs following IEC-aligned mounting conventions. Cross-substitution requires baseplate modification and coupling redesign.
5. What stock and lead time applies to WX/WO units for Australian orders?
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Standard catalogue WX/WO sizes 40 through 135 despatch within 3–5 business days to Australian capital cities. Size 155 and non-standard configurations — custom bore diameters, stainless bore elements, non-standard ratios, food-grade lubricant — carry 4–6 week production lead times. Contact the technical enquiry team with driven shaft diameters and combined load torque figures to confirm size selection and stock availability before placing an order.