Hunting for a Solution
Hunting for a Solution
Most of you are excused for missing the attempted humor in the above headline. So, I will violate the first rule of comedy and explain the joke. And like most
How Many Teeth Do You Want?
Designing gears is somewhat of a mathematical puzzle. You have lots of interconnected factors to play with in hopes of finding the “best” overall solution to the problem. Among the
Moderation Instead of Modification
Few designers would feel comfortable with a face to pinion pitch diameter ratio of 2.00 anymore. Some still prefer to select face width by face contact ratios, often aiming for
What About Face Width?
The second component in that face contact ratio equation is the face width. There are almost as many “rules of thumb” for determining the “proper” face width as there are
In Search of True Helical Action
I was trained in the cult of the integer face contact ratio. A few adherents to this belief are still above ground, but the introduction of personal computers has made
How Much Helix Angle?
The most obvious difference between a spur gear and a helical gear is the presence of that “helix” angle. Civilians will call them “straight-cut” and “crooked-cut” — like those are
Back to Basics: Helical Gears
Most of the gearboxes I have been involved with use single helical gears. Its excellent power capacity per mesh makes it the default system for many designers. Every aspect of
Filling in the Gaps
A few weeks ago, I admitted to not knowing much about the Klingelnberg system of bevels. Terry Edwards, chief designer at Pacific Star Marine in British Columbia, was kind enough
Worm Basics – Part 2
Continuing our discussion of the “least you need to know” about worm gearing: 5. Efficiency is highly variable for worms. If it is critical to your application, you have to
Minimal Worm Expertise
Worm gearing has long been a big part of the mechanical world. If you work in the gear trade, “civilians” will rightly expect you to know things about it. Very
