Harmonic Drive FHA-C H Hollow-Shaft Actuator Review: Specs, Price and Applications
Updated: 6 days ago
Harmonic Drive FHA-C H combines a hollow-shaft strain-wave reducer, brushless servomotor and selected motor feedback for an external high-voltage servo drive. Four frame families and three ratios provide distinct continuous and maximum operating limits. The full code also selects brake, encoder, cable exit and protection; the H winding alone does not make every unit IP65.
Quick Verdict
Consider FHA-C H for a compact rotary axis that needs a central passage and an externally matched high-voltage servo system. Its value is the motor/reducer integration and defined feedback choices. Specify the complete ordering code and loaded duty, especially the P protection option and the separate continuous torque and speed limits.
Harmonic Drive FHA-C H Hollow-Shaft Actuator at a Glance
Specification | Details |
Architecture | Hollow-shaft brushless servo actuator with strain-wave reduction; external servo drive required |
Ratios in each compared frame | 50 / 100 / 160; values below follow that order |
FHA-17C-H | Continuous torque 15 / 23 / 23.2 Nm; maximum 39 / 57 / 64 Nm; maximum speed 96 / 48 / 30 rpm |
FHA-25C-H | Continuous torque 40 / 72 / 90 Nm; maximum 151 / 233 / 261 Nm; maximum speed 90 / 45 / 28 rpm |
FHA-32C-H | Continuous torque 60 / 153.5 / 240 Nm; maximum 281 / 398 / 453 Nm; maximum speed 80 / 40 / 25 rpm |
FHA-40C-H | Continuous torque 90 / 234 / 400 Nm; maximum 500 / 686 / 823 Nm; maximum speed 70 / 35 / 22 rpm |
Winding class | H = 680 VDC winding/bus class; manufacturer describes 480 VAC servo-system compatibility; matched drive required |
Protection code | IP44 standard in the ordering table; P option specifies IP65 |
Feedback options | Configuration-specific EnDat2.1/ 2.2 and HIPERFACE choices; single-turn or selected multiturn versions |
Brake code | B option; changes dimensions, mass and wiring; confirm intended holding duty |
Hollow passage diameter | Drawing H7 bore entries 25 / 42 / 60 / 60 mm for sizes 17 / 25 / 32 / 40 |
Price | Request a quote for exact frame, ratio, encoder, brake, protection, drive and cables |
Design and Engineering Assessment
The four frame tables must be read by ratio. FHA-40C-H at ratio 50 has 90 Nm continuous torque and 70 rpm maximum speed, while ratio 160 has 400 Nm continuous and 22 rpm maximum. Those are distinct configurations; neither row establishes 400 Nm at 70 rpm. Include the actual moving, holding and transient duty in the sizing calculation.
The H designation identifies the high-voltage winding configuration. Motor power and feedback must be matched to a compatible servo amplifier, including commutation, current convention and supported feedback protocol. A list of compatible drive brands does not establish that every drive from those brands can operate every encoder option.
The protection ordering is more precise than a family IP65 headline. P supplies the IP65 option; the standard table entry is IP44. The selected connectors, seals, cable routing and process environment must maintain the chosen protection arrangement. A motor photograph or an H suffix alone does not identify that complete installation.
The hollow shaft is useful for central routing, but the services still need an appropriate motion and strain-relief design. Determine allowable rotation, passage clearance and the need for a rotary interface. The available motor torque does not establish the load-bearing capacity of attached tooling or the life of the routed cable.
Encoder protocol and external drive
The ordering table distinguishes EnDat2.1 with sin/cos, digital EnDat2.2 and HIPERFACE options, with different single-turn and multiturn arrangements. Preserve the exact feedback reference with the drive setup, cabling and firmware compatibility. Do not substitute a family-wide encoder resolution for the selected option.
The motor, reducer and load form one servo system. Motor-side feedback does not directly observe every load-side deflection or lost motion. Define the required angular result at the tool and qualify it through reversals and external load changes.
Electrical supply and thermal duty
H is listed as a 680 VDC winding/bus class in a 480 VAC servo-system context. This is not permission to connect the actuator directly to mains. Use the specific amplifier, motor electrical data and installation requirements for the selected configuration.
Motor-current values use RMS conventions. Compare them with the drive’s continuous and transient capabilities using consistent definitions, and evaluate the complete duty and mounting temperature. A maximum torque entry is not an indefinite holding allowance.
P protection, cable exits and mounting
The P option specifies IP65; K changes to rear cable exit, and R changes the pilot arrangement in the manufacturer’s order table. These options affect installation and should remain in the exact machine reference. Confirm cable bends and access to feedback and motor connectors before approving the mounting envelope.
Protection depends on the complete installation. Check the actual process fluids, cleaning regime and cable/connector arrangement rather than treating IP65 as a universal wash-down-compatibility statement. The selected drawing and environmental scope govern the application.
Brake and output loading
The optional B brake changes the package. The cited table lists FHA-40C-H mass at 10.8 kg without and 12.8 kg with brake; the axial dimensions also differ. Confirm whether the brake’s documented function meets the required holding duty and how it is sequenced with the drive.
Calculate radial, axial and moment loads at the output bearing together with the torque-speed cycle. A compact integrated gear/motor assembly is not an unlimited-load rotary table. If a gravity or spring load must remain supported after power removal, define that requirement explicitly in the machine design.
Commissioning and selection alternatives
Commission with controlled motion limits. Verify phase/feedback compatibility, direction, referencing, travel limits and brake sequence before applying the representative load cycle. Observe following error, thermal behavior and DC-bus response during deceleration or externally driven motion.
Compare FHA-C H with standard/PR FHA-C and another actuator architecture at the same loaded duty, feedback and environment. Standard or PR torque data should not be substituted for an H winding. Retain the complete actuator and drive configuration for a repeatable replacement procedure.
Applications and Selection
Consider FHA-C H for machine-tool, packaging, robot or other OEM rotary axes needing a compact hollow-shaft motor/reducer assembly and a matched external high-voltage servo system. The chosen protection and brake options must fit the actual installation.
For Harmonic Drive FHA-C H Hollow-Shaft Actuator, define the actual machine duty before selecting an ordering configuration. Include the required operating point, available installation space, environment and control interfaces. The specification table describes the product or family; the surrounding machine determines which of those features matters for the intended job.
Price and Value
Price: Request a quote for the exact configuration. Compare the product, compatible control equipment, required mechanical parts, cabling and commissioning as one installed system. A component price alone does not represent the cost of a working automation axis.
Evaluate an alternative against the same duty and acceptance criteria. Match the continuous operating requirement first, then compare transient capability, feedback, mechanical fit and support. This avoids choosing between superficially similar products whose ratings describe different operating conditions.
Pros and Cons
Advantages
Combines a matched brushless motor and strain-wave reducer
Hollow shaft supports a defined central routing layout
Three ratios per compared frame provide explicit torque-speed choices
Feedback, brake and protection options support a precise ordering configuration
Limitations
External drive and encoder compatibility require exact matching
H does not automatically include the optional IP65 arrangement
Continuous and maximum values must remain tied to the selected ratio
Brake, cable and mounting options change the installation envelope
Who Should Consider Harmonic Drive FHA-C H Hollow-Shaft Actuator?
Consider this variant when the application requires the H winding and selected absolute feedback in a low-profile hollow-shaft actuator. Define continuous duty, torque transients, tool-position performance, environmental protection and load holding before choosing the complete code.
Harmonic Drive FHA-C H Hollow-Shaft Actuator FAQ
Does FHA-C H include the servo drive?
No. It is an actuator for an external matched servo amplifier. The drive must support the selected winding, feedback, current convention and machine control architecture.
Is every H actuator IP65?
No. The manufacturer’s ordering table lists IP44 standard and P as the IP65 option. Retain the complete protection and cable/connector specification.
Can ratio 160 torque be combined with ratio 50 speed?
No. For FHA-40C-H, ratio 160 lists 400 Nm continuous and 22 rpm maximum, while ratio 50 lists 90 Nm continuous and 70 rpm maximum. These are separate configurations.
Is 823 Nm a continuous rating?
No. For FHA-40C-H ratio 160, the table separates 400 Nm continuous from 823 Nm maximum. Duty and thermal conditions still govern the application.
Can any servo drive with EnDat operate any H encoder option?
Do not assume compatibility from the protocol name alone. Match the exact feedback variant, motor electrical data, amplifier and firmware/cabling requirements.
Does the B brake leave the same installation envelope?
No. Brake configurations have different mass, axial dimensions and wiring. Confirm the selected drawing and the brake’s intended function.
Can it connect directly to 480 VAC mains?
Use a compatible servo amplifier and the exact electrical documentation. The H winding/bus class and servo-system voltage description do not establish a direct-mains motor connection.
What is the price?
Request a quote for frame, ratio, winding, feedback, brake, protection, cable exit and drive/cable scope. Include mounting, load support and control requirements for the complete axis.
Prices are indicative and may change. Confirm the final configuration, commercial terms and delivery schedule before ordering.
