Can the Various Gearboxes Sold by STEPPERONLINE Be Back-driven?

Here you can see the various types of gearboxes sold by STEPPERONLINE:

https://www.omc-stepperonline.com/gearbox

Planetary gearboxes / Helical gearboxes / Worm gearboxes... as well as various gear motors including:

Stepper gear motors, Brushless gear motors, Brushed gear motors...

There are many types, and we often encounter this question:

Do these products support back-driving?

Initially, we understood this as simply meaning reversing the rotation direction. Actually, that's not the case. Many customers want to apply a rotating force to the gearbox's output shaft to make the motor spin in reverse at high speed, similar to a generator application.

Here, we clarify: For all the gearboxes and gear motors mentioned above, back-driving is strongly not recommended. Theoretically, it is possible to make the motor generate electricity in reverse, but it is very harmful to both the gearbox and the motor:

● It can cause abnormal gear meshing and accelerated wear inside the gearbox.

● It can lead to failure of the gearbox lubrication system.

● If the external back-driving force exceeds the gearbox's maximum allowable torque, it can directly cause gear bending, deformation, or even breakage.

● When the motor is driven in reverse, it generates a back-EMF (counter-electromotive force) opposite in polarity to the power supply voltage. This voltage superimposes on the power supply, causing an abnormal rise in the DC bus voltage of the circuit. If the voltage becomes too high, it may damage precise components such as the motor drive chip or capacitors on the control board.

If back-driving is absolutely necessary, it should only be used as a short-term, emergency measure. It is recommended to limit the speed to below 50% of the rated value, and not to run for extended periods (e.g., no more than 10 minutes per session). Furthermore, for gearboxes with self-locking characteristics, such as worm gearboxes, back-driving is impossible to achieve.

Updated on: 28/02/2026