A custom motor gearbox assembly has made its way into show business as a behind the scenes yet essential costar in "O" by Cirque du Soleil at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. The gearbox assembly is courtesy of Empire Magnetics Inc., Rohnert Park, Calif., and operates as a robust, submersible motion control solution to provide precise, reliable operation of a motorized, battery powered piano. The piano, and hence the gearbox, has to operate in and out of water, show after show, year after year. Also, because the piano must operate in water with performers, safety precautions demanded that the motor operate at less than 24 V, while still providing enough power to move the piano around the stage.

The gearbox assembly consists of a hall effect, commutated, three-phase brushless motor integrated with a cycloidal gearbox. The entire assembly is housed in an oil filled, pressure-compensated stainless steel housing, and has been providing reliable operation for more than seven years. Empire expects the units to outlast the show’s run.

The gearbox assembly is integrated into the piano, which features a tank style control system where the motors spin in opposite directions, allowing it to virtually turn on a dime. The performer controls the motors with a joystick attached to a foot pedal.

For more information, visit Empire Magnetics.