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,...

Evolution of terminology related to tooth distress

Inspection of gears operating in the field requires the proper use of terms describing tooth distress. Written reports by field engineers on occasion have...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Shell Eco-Marathon: The drive for green

Energy plays a critical role in our world. As populations grow and prosper, we are faced with the realization that we must meet the...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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”...

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...

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...

Time for an oil change

When you have to change the oil in your automobile, the specification for the type of oil is clearly detailed in the service manual...