Latest Insights in the Evolving Digital World

Reducing Gear Stress with Splines

A spline gear is a type of gear that uses a set of teeth or grooves that align with grooves and splines in another set of gears to control torque speed. These gears are used in a variety of machines such as automobiles and other machines that use torque to control

Recent research has shown that there is another use for the spline gear, however. Replacing the cut trochoid root shape with a curved spline shape can help reduce the root stress of a gear tooth. It is easier to manufacture the root shape gears in mass production than other gear designs.

The problem with conventional gear design, the range of the tooth root radii that can be generated is restricted. Switching the design to the curved spline design eliminates much of this restriction, making the gears much more flexible and versatile. When this design is used, the overall gear stress is greatly reduced, and the gears can be used in a much wider range of applications.

This versatility combined with the cost-effectiveness of production makes the switch to the spline curved design wise for many companies. Any company that uses traditional hob gears and gear cutting tools can benefit from the switch to the new design of spline style gears for a wide range of applications. The gears will cost less, last longer, and provide greater range of motion and reduced stress on the gear than the former gear designs. With all of these benefits, there is no reason not to use the new gear styles.