The slewing drive is a gearbox that can safely hold radial and axial loads, as well as transmit a torque for rotating. The rotation can be in a single axis, or in multiple axes together. Slewing drives are made by manufacturing gearing, bearings, seals, housing, motor and other auxiliary components and assembling them into a finished gearbox.
Slewing drives function with standard worm technology, in which the worm on the horizontal shaft acts as the Slew Drive driver for the gear. The rotation of the horizontal screw turns a gear about an axis perpendicular to the screw axis. This combination reduces the speed of the driven member and also multiplies its torque; increasing it proportionally as the speed decreases.The speed ratio of shafts depends upon the relation of the number of threads on the worm to the number of teeth in the worm wheel or gear.

As technology has improved, more slewing drives are using hourglass worm technology, in which the worm is KOYO 6304 Bearing shaped to engage more teeth in the gear. This increased tooth engagement results in greater strength, efficiency and durability.