splines | Gear Technology Magazine

AGMA Offers Online Course on Involute Spline Design and Rating

This course will address both the geometry and rating of involute splines of various types

May 29, 2022

In July, Raymond J. Drago, P.E.—chief engineer of Drive Systems Technology, Inc. (DST), a mechanical power transmission consulting organization that he founded in 1976—will lead an IACET-accredited course on both the geometry and rating of involute splines of various types along with their applications. Topics under discussion include spline configuration variations, including half depth, full depth, and special function designs; both fixed and flexible spline configurations in terms of usage and design; lubrication methods, including grease, oil bath, and flowing oil, as well as coatings appropriate for various spline applications; and shear and compressive stress rating methods with analyses methodology in both equation and graphical methodology via various rating charts.

Design Parameters for Spline Connections

September 1, 2019

This article provides a guideline for the selection of a suitable standard in connection with the kind of spline to be designed and manufactured. Some basic formulae have been explained, together with a strategy on how to find standard tooling by calculating an appropriate profile shift factor for the spline to be designed.

Defining the Spline Pressure Angle

August 1, 2019

A reader requests help designing the mating gear for an internal spline.

Frenco REANY Gear Inspection Software Melds Data from Multiple Sources

March 1, 2018

REANY is software for the evaluation of gears and splines that have been measured completely on all teeth. It is suited to both quality assessment and analyzing the causes for deviations. REANY is short for Reality Analysis.

Gear Teeth as Bearing Surfaces

May 1, 2017

A reader wonders about gears where the tops of the teeth are the bearing surface, as used in spur gear differentials. Do they require any special construction or processing?

Innovating Against the Tide

September 1, 2016

During a year with a strong dollar, tanked oil prices and a number of soft markets that just aren't buying, one might expect spline manufacturers to be experiencing the same tumult everyone else is. But when I got a chance to speak with some of the suppliers to spline manufacturers at IMTS about how business is going, many of the manufacturing industry's recent woes never came up, and instead were replaced by a shrug and an "eh, business is doing pretty well."

Load Distribution Analysis of Spline Joints

May 1, 2014

A finite elements-based contact model is developed to predict load distribution along the spline joint interfaces; effects of spline misalignment are investigated along with intentional lead crowning of the contacting surfaces. The effects of manufacturing tooth indexing error on spline load distributions are demonstrated by using the proposed model.

Variation Analysis of Tooth Engagement and Load Sharing in Involute Splines

June 1, 2010

Involute spline couplings are used to transmit torque from a shaft to a gear hub or other rotating component. External gear teeth on the shaft engage an equal number of internal teeth in the hub. Because multiple teeth engage simultaneously, they can transmit much larger torques than a simple key and keyway assembly. However, manufacturing variations affect the clearance between each pair of mating teeth, resulting in only partial engagement.

Determining Spline Misalignment Capabilities

November 1, 1995

Introducing backlash into spline couplings has been common practice in order to provide for component eccentric and angular misalignment. The method presented here is believed to be exact for splines with even numbers of teeth and approximate for those with odd numbers of teeth. This method is based on the reduction of the maximum effective tooth thickness to achieve the necessary clearance. Other methods, such as tooth crowning, are also effective.

A Comparison of ISO 4156-ANSI B92.2M - 1980 With Older Imperial Standards

September 1, 1994

The purpose of this article is to discuss ISO 4156/ANSI B92.2M-1980 and to compare it with other, older standards still in use. In our experience designing and manufacturing spline gauges and other spline measuring or holding devices for splined component manufacturers throughout the world, we are constantly surprised that so many standards have been produced covering what is quite a small subject. Many of the standards are international standards; others are company standards, which are usually based on international standards. Almost all have similarities; that is, they all deal with splines that have involute flanks of 30 degrees, 37.5 degrees or 45 degrees pressure angle and are for the most part flank-fitting or occasionally major-diameter-fitting.