The Center Drive Gear and Middle Shaft Gear are the "heart joint" of the single-axis photovoltaic tracker. The high-speed, low-torque output of the motor is instantly converted to low-speed, high-torque by this pair of gears, driving the entire torque tube to rotate synchronously, enabling hundreds of solar panels to track the sun in real time. Their meshing accuracy directly determines a tracking angle error of ≤0.3° and a design life of ≥25 years (accurately calculated according to ISO 6336), providing the primary guarantee for increased energy production. 

The Importance of Using ADI Cast

The entire assembly is precision-cast in a single pass using austempered ductile iron (ADI). This casting boasts a typical surface hardness of 45-55 HRC (ISO 17804), a yield strength of ≥850 MPa, and a 30% increase in impact toughness. Under the same load, it is 18% lighter than 42CrMo forged steel, naturally reducing drive power consumption. ADI's self-lubricating microporous structure maintains low wear in outdoor environments of sand, dust, salt spray, and alternating temperatures from -40°C to +80°C. The accelerated wear in the laboratory over 500 hours is less than 0.05 mm (Chinese Academy of Sciences 2024-W-013), and its lifespan is 2.3 times that of traditional ductile iron gears.

ADI 1050-7 Material Properties: