Gear drives perform functions such as increasing motor torque, decreasing motor speed, and changing the direction of rotating shafts. Of course, the most critical components of a gear drive are the gears themselves. The following section discusses some of the most common types of gears.
Spur gears
Spur gears transmit power via parallel shafts. Spur gear teeth are parallel to the shaft axis, causing the gears to generate radial reaction loads but not axial loads on the shaft. Spur gears are noisier than helical gears because they have a single line of contact between the teeth.
Helical gears
Because the teeth of helical gears are oriented at an angle to the shaft, more than one tooth is in contact, allowing helical gears to carry a greater load than spur gears. Helical gears are smoother and quieter to operate because of the load sharing between teeth. Helical gears are commonly used in enclosed gear drives.
Double helical gear
Two helical faces are placed next to each other with a gap between them to form a double helical gear. These gears eliminate thrust loads and have more tooth overlap, resulting in an even smoother operation.
Herringbone gear
Herringbone gears are similar to double helical gears but lack the gap between the two helical faces. As a result, these gears are typically smaller and best suited for high shock and vibration applications. However, herringbone gears are expensive and difficult to produce, so they are rarely used.
Bevel gears
Bevel gears are used to transfer power from one shaft to another at a 90-degree angle. They are generally more expensive and cannot transmit as much torque as a parallel shaft arrangement.
Contact MBA Technologies today
MBA Technologies prides itself on providing quality engineering quickly and at competitive rates. We work closely with our customers to ensure their projects are completed to their satisfaction. With almost a decade of extensive experience, we can produce large quantities of gears in a short period and small amounts of gears at highly competitive prices. For more information about our gear cutting services, get in touch with our team today to assist with any project.
