Basic concepts related to Power Skiving and gear production
The production of gears using the modern power skiving method is a revolution in the tool industry. It provides unrivaled precision and performance that has never been achieved before. In this post, we introduce key concepts related to power skiving so that you can better understand this innovative method.
We focused on the four most important concepts on which the Power Skiving method is based. This includes the tooth module, the gear pressure angle, the pitch diameter and the measurement of the gear in the balls. We have tried to describe all concepts in an accessible way so that the knowledge we provide is easily digestible and understandable to everyone interested.
Tooth module
Let’s start with the tooth modulus, which is a design parameter that determines the size and shape of the gear teeth. In practice, tooth modulus can be described as the ratio of the base diameter of a gear to the number of teeth on it. In other words, the tooth modulus tells us how big each tooth on the gear is. Tooth modulus is an important design parameter in gear design because it affects its performance, durability and reliability. Therefore, to ensure proper operation of the gear transmission, the appropriate tooth module must be selected. This means adapting it to the requirements of the application in which the gearbox will work.
Source: Rutkowski A., Części maszyn, WSiP, Warszawa 2012
Gear pressure angle
Another of the most important concepts in Power Skiving is the thrust angle. It is the angle between a line through the tooth pressure point and a plane perpendicular to the gear axis. It affects the transmission of torque between the gear teeth and the efficiency and durability of the gear. Too large a pressure angle may lead to increased noise and wear of the gear, while too small a pressure angle may overload the teeth and result in incorrect gear operation.
Source: Rutkowski A., Części maszyn, WSiP, Warszawa 2012
Pitch diameter…
…is the theoretical diameter on which the pitch line is placed, dividing the gear teeth into equal segments. Although difficult to measure directly, it is an important parameter that influences other gear dimensions such as outer diameter and tooth modulus. The pitch diameter is determined based on the number of gear teeth and the tooth module.
Source: Parametry koła zębatego, szkolnictwo.pl
Diameter in balls
The last term we would like to mention is ball gear measurement, a method used to precisely determine the shape and dimensions of the gear teeth. This method involves inserting a set of balls into the space between the teeth of the wheel and precisely measuring the diameters of the balls. Based on these measurements, wheel diameters can be determined at various points, which allows the exact shape of the wheel teeth to be determined.
Measuring a gear in balls is one of many methods used to control the quality of gear production and to accurately determine the shape and dimensions of the gear teeth. This method is particularly useful in the production of high-precision gears that must meet very stringent quality requirements.
Source: Grzegorz Tomaszczyk, prof. Eugeniusz Ratajczyk, Pomiary kół zębatych, Wyższa Szkoła Ekologii i Zarządzania w Warszawie
Now that we know these basic gear concepts, we can better understand how important they are when designing and manufacturing power skiving tools. The selection of the appropriate tooth module, the optimal contact angle and the precise determination of the pitch diameter are crucial for the efficiency and quality of gear transmissions.
We hope you found this brief presentation of basic gear concepts useful. If you have any questions or need more information about our Power Skiving tools, please contact us. We will be happy to provide you with further explanations and help you choose the right tools for your needs.