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Automotive Brain Power

Four Key Takeaways from CTI Symposium USA 2026

One of my favorite events each year is the Car Training Institute (CTI) Symposium USA in Novi, MI. The program brings together engineers to discuss and debate the current state of the North American automotive market from a powertrain, transmission, and electrification perspective.

The Doctor Is In

Inside Luftex’s five-pillar approach to gearbox repair

Optical vs. Tactile Gear Measurement for E-Mobility

A practical comparison of fringe projection and conventional tactile systems for classic and waviness gear characteristics

Systems Failure

Rethinking failure, replacement, and supply
strategy in heavy industry

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Technical Articles

Investigating the Effects of Wear, Lubrication and Material Pairing on the NVH Performance of Plastic Gears

This study systematically evaluates how material selection, progressive wear, and grease lubrication affect the noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) performance of polymer gears, providing new insights for designing quieter, more optimized transmission systems.

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Smart Alloying Eliminates Manufacturing Steps in Automotive Gears

20NiMo9-7 alloy achieves up to 48 percent higher fatigue strength than conventional carburizing steels in the as-carburized condition, eliminating the need for shot peening and grinding in automotive gear applications.

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Design Method of System Tolerances in Cylindrical Gearboxes for Cost-Efficient Optimization of the Excitation Behavior

The article proposes a method to optimize cylindrical gearbox tolerances by balancing gear noise performance and manufacturing costs using modeling, analysis, and meta-model-based optimization.

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Influence of Tooth Root Contour Deviations on the Tooth Bending Strength

This study investigates how manufacturing-related geometry deviations in the tooth root area affect gear bending strength calculations, demonstrating that accounting for measured tooth contours rather than nominal geometries is essential for accurate material comparisons in fatigue testing.

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Design

For cylindrical gears, speed-increasing transmission stages are well known, and regarding profile shift, preferred pressure angles, and helix angles a set of rules applies, which is not much different from the rules for speed reducers. It is important to acknowledge that basically, a speed increaser has to be designed just like a speed reducer, but then the gear with the lower number of teeth is the output. Of course, the torque and the speed of the gear with the lower number of teeth (output) and the gear with the higher number of teeth (input) must be the same as if this transmission was used as a speed reducer. In the case of straight bevel gears, spiral bevel gears, and hypoid gears the same rules apply with some additions. Spiral bevel gears have many applications as speed increasers.  

Grinding

The trend towards hard fine finishing of gears for automotive transmissions is accelerating. In recent years, the focus has been on increasing the efficiency of gears in order to make optimum use of the narrow gear ratio range, gear by gear, and to reduce fuel consumption. Surface finish, in particular, is under increased scrutiny since it plays such a decisive role in achieving the noise and efficiency requirements of gear units for today’s EV applications.

Inspection

On the surface, it may not seem like the gear inspection industry has changed much over the last few years. Shops still primarily use either machines that are dedicated solely to measuring gears, or multiuse Coordinate Measuring Machines (CMMs). And regardless of which machine they use, software serves as the backbone that supports their many diverse sensors.

Heat Treating

Furnaces North America 2022 (FNA 2022), presented by the Metal Treating Institute (MTI), in partnership with its media partner, Heat Treat Today, is the heat-treating industry’s go-to event every other year. FNA 2022 attracted attendees from across North America, including Fortune 500 companies. For three days attendees took part in networking, connections, and learning about the vast changes taking place in emerging technologies, industry trends, and advances in equipment.

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Videos

Grob Showcases Gear Ring Production with Power Skiving

The Grob G750T boasts efficient machining for gear rings by offering precise and efficient power skiving and seamless integration of milling and turning for maximum flexibility and productivity.

Industry News

Ceratizit USA announced the promotion of Steve Kuhnle to U.S. business development specialist for Defense. Kuhnle previously served as the cutting tool company’s sales director for the East Region.

Product News

Index Corp. will present manufacturers with a variety of strategies to streamline production at IMTS 2026, taking place September 14-19 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. Visitors to the company’s Booth #339119 in the South Building will witness the North American debut of multiple new machines, including an entirely new design concept tailored to small part production. The company will also demonstrate its full portfolio of proven advanced machine technologies, as well as provide insight into how manufacturers can produce every job faster to maximize profitability.

Calendar

Advanced Manufacturing Expo (AME) 2026

Jul 29, 2026 - Jul 30, 2026

The Advanced Manufacturing Expo (AME) (Grand Rapids, MI) is the premier gathering for professionals shaping the future of manufacturing. It’s where innovation meets production — connecting industry leaders, cutting-edge technology, and real-world solutions under one roof. Explore the latest in automation, metalworking, MRO, safety and Industry 4.0 technology across four dynamic halls. From hands-on demonstrations to expert-led sessions, AME provides smarter, faster, and more efficient manufacturing solutions. 

RPM Symposium 2026

Sep 22, 2026 - Sep 23, 2026

Furnaces North America (FNA) 2026

Oct 12, 2026 - Oct 14, 2026

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