Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Brian Dengel
Beyond the spur | Gear Solutions Magazine Your Resource to the Gear Industry
In the 1950s, everyone was doing the twist. As one of the dance crazes at the time, it was easy to learn and easy to do. Gearing also exists with a twist; however, it is not as simple as one might think. Helical gearing takes the straight tooth design of a spur gear and twists it.Although the twist is simple, it does generate complex geometry of the teeth and might result in either an axial or radial (transverse) pitch.
The Bullseye in the mesh
In my three decades in the mechanical engineering field, specifically that of metric power transmission components, I have had the privilege of reviewing thousands of gear designs. Over that time, I have seen the good, the bad, and the catastrophically noisy. When speaking with young engineers, I often notice a recurring hurdle.
Achieving Zero Backlash With Worm Gear Pairs
Automated Assembly SystemsMotion Control Duplexworm gears allow backlash adjustment to be made by axially shifting the worm. Duplex worm gears allow backlash adjustment to be made by axially shifting the worm, greatly simplifying assembly and maintenance operations. A duplex worm gear pair consists of a dual-lead worm and a corresponding worm wheel, with tooth thickness that varies continuously with the lead difference.
Decoding Gear Geometry
When analyzing a situation, social scientists wonder, “What is the angle that this conversation is taking?” Every conversation maintains a bias whether overtly or unacknowledged. This bias is known as the “angle.” Gearing is also driven by angles, and these values drive the very geometry that defines the gear shape and performance. When a design engineer is suddenly tasked with specifying a gear drive for a piece of industrial equipment, the terminology can be overwhelming.
Keys and Keyways
Keys and keyways serve as fundamental mechanical mechanisms for transmitting torque between rotating shafts and power transmission components, such as metric spur, helical, or bevel gears. The structural integrity and kinetic reliability of a shaft-hub assembly depend heavily on the geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) of the mating components.
Ohhh, gears. For cars?
I was recently at a conference outside of the engineering world and was repeatedly asked, “So, what do you do?” I offered that I am the general manager of a metric gear supplier and, after they wiped the glazed look off their face, the reply was, “For cars?” This is pretty much the typical response. People always picture an automotive transmission and stop there. To them, gears are these invisible, greasy things that make a vehicle move.
What is my temperature?
The harsh environmental conditions of winter make many of us think about the upcoming change of seasons. Soon, the frigid temperatures, black-iced roadways, and endless inches of snow will be gone, and temperate conditions will be the norm. Once the seasons change in June, the summer months will bring the heat and humidity that will once again make us wish for cooler weather. Just like us, gearing is sensitive to both temperature and humidity.
Are my gears in the best shape?
As we ring in the New Year, it is commonplace for people to reflect on the prior twelve months and to make resolutions about their physical, mental, and financial health with emphasis on improvements in the coming year. These reflections help to shape ideas to improve mobility, agility, and longevity. Just as we review ourselves, the new year is an excellent time to review the performance of our gear systems. One favorite resolution for the new year is to try to lose weight.
Load, speed, and design life
Considered one of the fastest land animals, the cheetah can achieve speeds of 100+ kilometers per hour (kph). It can accelerate from zero to 95 kph within three seconds. However, it can only sustain this speed for about 25 to 30 seconds, which results in a distance traveled of 300 to 400 meters before it needs to rest. A caribou can travel 80 kilometers per day at a steady pace of 16 kph with the ability to run at 60 kph for short distances.
Right angle gearing
Sir Issac Newton’s First Law of fundamental motion states that an object at rest stays at rest, and an object in motion stays in motion at a constant speed and direction, unless acted upon by a net force. Extrapolating this law, motion, if uninterrupted will continue in a straight line. Many times when building a machine, there is a need to “bend” this motion. For these situations, there are various gearing configurations that will accomplish this change in direction.
Understanding worms and worm wheels
Worm gear pairs are a common gearing technology. They consist of two components, the first being the worm and the second being the worm wheel. The worm is a cylindrical piece with gear teeth produced in a manner that resembles a screw. Worms are produced either as an integral part of a shaft or they are produced with a bore in order to be fixed to a shaft.
Making the correct gear rack choice
A simple internet search for the term “racks” returns such items as industrial storage racks, server racks, pipe racks, pallet racks, and clothes racks. Clearly, these are not the racks that we are looking for in our industry. Modifying the search to “gear racks” returns such items as first responder gear racks, hunting gear racks, climbing gear racks, and roof racks. These are also not the racks we are referring to when we are designing components for linear motion applications.
Are gears the greatest thing since sliced bread?
As we roll into the summertime, those of us who live on the Eastern seaboard of the United States look forward to lazy days at the beach. Part of the tradition of spending a day of fun in the sun is to stop by a local shop and order a sandwich for lunch. Regardless of whether you order a hero, or a sub, or a grinder, or a hoagie, each of these sandwiches include fresh sliced deli meats piled high with cheese, onions, lettuce, tomatoes, and sometimes pickles or olives.
The unsung hero of motion: Demystifying the gearbox
In our modern world, motion is fundamental. From the vehicles that transport us, to the intricate machinery that produces our goods, countless devices rely on a silent, indispensable component: the gearbox. Often hidden from view, this mechanical system plays a pivotal role in translating raw power into purposeful action, making our daily lives and industrial processes run smoothly and efficiently.
3D printing and additive manufacturing in gearing
If you had the opportunity to walk the SME-sponsored tradeshow RAPID + TCT this past April in Detroit, Michigan, then you saw a tremendous offering of additive technologies on display. These technologies give the design engineer new tools to create components in shapes and configurations that were previously unobtainable with traditional machining processes.
Straight-tooth vs. spiral-tooth bevel gearing
Bevel gears are essential components in mechanical power transmission systems, particularly when the requirement is to transfer motion and torque between intersecting shafts. These gears, characterized by their conical pitch surfaces, come in distinct designs, each offering specific features and benefits tailored to your unique engineering application.
Converting rotary motion into linear motion
When speaking about gears, the most common application is to translate speed and torque via rotation. Some gear systems accomplish this using parallel axes, some use intersecting axes, and some operate on non-intersecting, non-parallel axes. Another application is to translate the rotational motion to linear motion. Commonly this is done via a rack and pinion system. Rack and pinion systems are remarkably simple designs.
Metric gearing in robotic applications
In the realm of robotics, precision and efficiency are paramount. From intricate surgical procedures to the delicate movements of industrial arms, every component plays a crucial role in achieving desired outcomes. Among these components, gears stand out as pivotal in transmitting both power and motion, and the choice of gearing standards significantly impacts overall performance and reliability. The use of metric gearing in the design of robotic applications is highly desirable.
Noncircular gears, though not common, can play critical role
With the new year begun, many people are making resolutions regarding their health. The desire to “get into shape” is a popular resolution. The question that many do not ask themselves is “what shape I should be?” What many people overlook is that round is a shape. For gearing, this is the most common shape; however, there are also gears that are noncircular.
The importance of face width in gear design
Faces come in many shapes and sizes. You might have a round face or maybe an oval-shaped face. You could have a square face or even a rectangular face. Based on the shape of your face, a particular hair style might suit you better. When you get to a certain age, and your eyesight starts to change, the width of your face will determine the size of the frames you will need for those pesky reading glasses that you suddenly require. Gears have faces, too. They also come in many sizes and shapes.
How much torque can this gear handle?
Someone once asked me if I was trying to reinvent the wheel. I don’t know where that phrase was coined, as the concept of using a wheel to redirect motion has been in existence for thousands of years. Beyond adding wheels to a cart, the design of a rope and a pulley is one of the early wheel applications. Once the idea of adding pegs to the wheel was contemplated, the result was the first gear design. This was further refined into the gear tooth forms that we know today.
Under Pressure - Packaging Technology Today
Understanding the Choice of Pressure Angle in the Design of Spur or Helical Gearing By Brian Dengel, General Manager of KHK-USA The pressure angle of a gear is defined as the angle formed by the radial line and the line tangent to the profile at the pitch point. As noted in the image in Figure 1, the pressure angle is the jump off angle of the characters.
A primer on key gearing terms
Regardless of the style of gear that needs to be designed, there are specific criteria that need to be specified in order to manufacture the product. Some of the values are determined by the designer and others are the result of standard formulas. One of the criteria set by the designer is the number of teeth on the gear. The number of teeth that are machined onto the gear will contribute to the calculation of speed ratio.
Gear rack limitations
Gear racks are a popular gear style. They convert rotational motion into linear motion. Simply speaking, a gear rack is a section of a spur gear with an infinite pitch radius. Typically machined from a bar shaped material, racks can be square, round, or rectangular in cross section and the teeth can be either parallel to the base or offset at an angle. One issue when designing a rack system is to set the length of the gear rack.
Work in a post-COVID economy
This Tooth Tips column doesn’t deal directly with gears or how they work, but bear with me. What I hope it does is address how gears and other products are manufactured and why it’s important that time management in relation to a changing work environment must address the needs of the employer and the employee to provide customers with the best product.
The accuracy of spur gearing
When deciding which spur gear to select for an application, there are several factors to consider. What is the anticipated torque? What is the desired life? What is the physical space available? What is the anticipated operating speed? These criteria help to size the gearing for the application. However, during production there are other factors to consider that will affect the performance of the gearing.
‘I created a CAD drawing of my gear. Now build it.’
In the movie “Field of Dreams,” the character Ray Kinsella is told, “if you built it, he will come.” In engineering, there is a belief that if you can design something, it can be built. Most engineers use tools such as computer aided design (CAD) in order to create a visual representation of the mechanical system and the corresponding components. Unfortunately, the ability to create a visual representation in CAD does not guarantee manufacturability.
Gearing in an AI world
What is intelligence, anyway? It is the ability to acquire knowledge and skills and then apply the knowledge and skills to solve complex problems, think abstractly, and comprehend multifaceted ideas in a logical fashion. Natural intelligence is found throughout the animal kingdom. One example of intelligence is the act of a mother lion teaching her cubs how to hunt. The desire to hunt is innate but the skill set to perform well needs to be taught.
Making sense out of gear materials
If you have ever sat down for Sunday dinner in a traditional Italian-American home, you know not to question the red sauce known as “Grandma’s Gravy.” This tomato-based elixir coating your pasta is a gift from heaven itself. But the ketchup served with your French fries at the local fast food drive-thru is also a “sauce” made from tomatoes. Therefore, they must be interchangeable, right?
What is a worm gear?
What is a worm gear? A worm gear is a type of cylindrical gear on which the teeth are helicoid — it has teeth that are cut at an angle to the axis of rotation. They are similar to helical gears but offer advantages both in torque capacity and smoothness of operations. Worm gears are part of a set of gearing components and require a mating worm in order to function. The gear teeth of the worm gear mesh with the teeth of a mating worm.
Types of Methods Used for Securing Gears to Shafts
Did you ever have someone “give you the shaft”? This insult is defined as ignoring or putting someone down. In gearing, giving you the shaft is just the beginning part of constructing your gear train. Each gear in a system is going to be resting on a shaft as the purpose of each gear is to transmit motion through the shafts of the mechanism. Just as there are many types of gears, there are also many types of methods to attach a gear to a shaft.
How to Optimize Operations With the Right Gears
Identifying the Right Recipe for the Application is Key By Brian Dengel, General Manager at KHK-USA In all packaging machinery, whether it is a pouch filler, labeling equipment or sealing equipment, motion begins at the motor and needs to travel to all elements of the machinery. Gears are an economical and efficient solution to transmit this motion. Gears come in many forms and many materials. Different materials make gears suitable for the desired application.
What is a spiral bevel gear?
What is a spiral bevel gear? A spiral bevel gear is a type of conically shaped gear that has octoidal teeth.The gear teeth of a spiral bevel pinion mesh with the teeth of a mating spiral bevel gear form a spiral bevel gear pair. They are a type of machine element commonly found in applications which require a change in direction and speed. Spiral bevel gears are used with spiral bevel pinions to create mechanical systems that change speed and torque primarily in perpendicular shaft applications.
Gear Materials: What to Use and When
If you've ever sat down for Sunday dinner in an authentic Italian American home, you know not to question the red sauce known as “Grandma's Gravy.” This tomato-based elixir coating your pasta is a gift from heaven itself. But the ketchup served with your French fries at the local fast food drive-thru is also a “sauce” made from tomatoes. Therefore, they must be interchangeable, right?
How You Can Achieve Zero-Backlash Worm-Gear Pairs
Life is full of opposing views. If you are heading to the beach, then you want to have the “perfect” beach body. This requires a strict adherence to a healthy diet and a strong gym regimen. After a fun day in the sun, you want to relax with friends over a few beers and some great eats. However, relaxing in this manner will change your beach bod into a Dad bod. With worm gear pairs, there's a similar situation.
What is a bevel gear?
What is a bevel gear? A bevel gear is a type of conically shaped gear that has octoidal teeth.The gear teeth of a bevel gear mesh with the teeth of a mating bevel gear, forming a bevel gear pair. They are a type of machine element commonly found in applications that require a change in direction and speed. Bevel gears are used with bevel pinions to create mechanical systems that change speed and torque primarily in perpendicular shaft applications.
Achieving Zero-backlash Worm-gear Pairs
Unique duplex worm gear pairs that minimize backlash in reversing applications. By Brian Dengel, General Manager, KHK USA Inc. Life is full of opposing views. If you are heading to the beach, then you want to have the “perfect” beach body. This requires a strict adherence to a healthy diet and a strong gym regimen. After a fun day in the sun, you want to relax with friends over a few beers and some great eats. However, relaxing in this manner will change your beach bod into a Dad bod.
Gearing 101: A primer on internal ring gears
What is an internal gear? An internal ring gear is a type of cylindrical-shaped gear that has teeth inside a circular ring. The gear teeth of the internal gears mesh with the teeth space of a spur gear. Spur gears have a convex-shaped tooth profile and internal gears have reentrant shaped tooth profile. They are a complex type of element commonly found in planetary gear systems and are always paired with a pinion.
What is a gear rack?
A gear rack is a type of gear on which gear teeth are cut on one face of a bar. The bar can be square, round or rectangular in cross section and the teeth can be either parallel to the base or set at an angle. They are a simple and common type of element in mechanical drive systems and are always paired with a pinion. Gear racks convert power and motion from rotary motion into linear motion. For straight tooth gear racks, the mating pinion must be the same pitch, and the same pressure angle.
What is a helical gear?
What is a helical gear? A helical gear is a type of cylindrical gear on which the teeth are helicoid, that has teeth that are cut at an angle to the axis of rotation. They are similar to spur gears but offer advantages both in torque capacity and smoothness of operations. Helical gears transmit power and motion between two parallel shafts. In order to do so, the pitch, the pressure angle, and the helix angle of both gears must be the same — however, the direction of the helix angle must be opposite.
What is a spur gear?
What is a spur gear? A spur gear is a type of cylindrical gear with straight teeth that are cut parallel to the axis of rotation. They are the simplest and most common type of element in mechanical drive systems. Spur gears transmit power and motion between two parallel shafts. In order to do so, both the pitch and the pressure angle of both gears must be the same. Spur gears can increase or decrease the speed and torque of the rotating shaft depending on the sizing and arrangement of the gears.
What gears should I use in my gearbox?
Home Departments Tooth Tips What gears should I use in my gearbox? Although designed to transmit torque and power between rotating shafts, the choices for gearing when designing a gearbox are determined primarily by the orientation of the input and the output shafts. Spur gearing is the proper selection for inline gearboxes and bevel gearing or worm gearing are the proper selections for right-angle gearboxes. Inline gearboxes are interchangeably referred to as gearheads.
Perspectives on helical gearing
Perspective is a particular attitude regarding your point of view on a subject. In most cases, the perspective through which you view a subject skews toward a particular bias based on your historical experiences. A classic example is detailed in Figure 1. It shows two people looking at a number drawn on the floor. One sees the number as the number six. The other sees the number as the number nine. Their bias is that the number is drawn such that it is oriented towards them.
What is the proper term for my toothed wheel
Over the river and through the woods to Grandmother’s house we go. This snippet from a holiday classic details how we will travel any distance to be with our relatives during the holiday season. Although each member of the family is a descendant of the matriarch, we all have unique qualities that define our individuality. In the toothed wheel family, there are several descendants including cogs, pulleys, sprockets, and gears. Although similar, they are all distinctly unique in their design and use.
Are my gears properly centered?
As we settle into the autumn weather, the changing of the seasons brings a sense of calm. The leaves change color, pumpkin spice is found in everything, and the cool crisp air brings a sense of peace after the hazy, hot, and humid days of summer. This peace is described by some as a sense of Zen. Some see it as a realignment of their chakras. Others say that they feel more centered at this time of year. Like people, gears also need to find their center, in order to mesh properly.
Rotational vs. linear motion with gearing
Spur gear pairs, helical gear pairs, bevel gear pairs, and worm gear pairs all transfer rotary motion from one shaft to another. In the case of spur gears, the drive shaft and the driven shaft are parallel; however, the rotation of the output shaft is opposite to that of the input shaft. For helical gears, the drive shaft and the driven shaft are parallel when the helix angle is identical for both gears, but the hand of the gears are opposite.
Understanding worms and worm wheels
Worm gear pairs are a common gearing technology. They consist of two components, the first being the worm and the second being the worm wheel. The worm is a cylindrical piece with gear teeth produced in a manner that resembles a screw. Worms are produced either as an integral part of a shaft or they are produced with a bore in order to be fixed to a shaft.
Why is there pi in my gearing?
When I was growing up, there was a phrase that said, “It’s as American as baseball, hot dogs, apple pie, and Chevrolet.” The “it” was anything you that you wanted to identify as being an American standard or custom. One such American standard is diametral pitch gearing. AGMA, the American Gear Manufacturer’s Association, is the authoritative voice for diametral pitch gearing and they maintain the standards to which all inch pitch gearing is measured.
Load, speed, and torque
When I was a child, one piece of equipment that was found on every playground was the merry-go-round. It was a simple device consisting of a round platform balanced on a central rotating base. Around the outside of the platform was handles that acted as both the method of propulsion and as a support to keep from flying off the ride due to centripetal force. This simple device combined the questions of: “How much load do I need to apply to make it spin? How fast can I make it go?
Eliminating backlash in worm gear pairs
Gardening is a hobby enjoyed by many. The ability to transform a small piece of land into a beautiful landscape can be both cathartic and a source of pride. When designing the landscape, consideration will be given to various shapes, colors, and heights in order to develop a visually appealing effect. What lies beneath the vegetation is just as important. Rich fertile soil, proper drainage, and beneficial biodiversity will ensure that the landscape develops into the desired result.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Brian
Contact Brian, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack