Many businesses consider October the end of their year (at least fiscally). At the American Gear Manufacturers Association (AGMA), we see this as the month of opportunity. It is exciting to think that at this show, you might find that one solution to the issues that were keeping you up at night. You might meet engineers, product developers, manufacturers, salespeople, and leaders who will give you insight that will help bring your business to the next level. While you are at MPT Expo and taking meetings around the Detroit area, catching up with industry peers, or seeing the latest innovations on the show floor, I have a couple of suggestions for you to make the most out of your time:
Attend every event available
You have already paid the travel and hotel to be at MPT Expo, so make sure to get your money’s worth. Every function is designed to connect industry leaders and innovators with customers.
Watching the presenters at the Solutions Center is an incredible way to hear from subject matter experts on their latest products or processes. The daily education classes, taught by the best in gearing, are the perfect way to help develop some of your employees’ skillsets while saving time and money throughout the year. The evening networking events are curated to host all parts of the industry to allow you to meet new business partners while enjoying a less formal atmosphere. The EV Town Hall is the first event ever to gather such a large group of power transmission professionals to talk about standards development in electric vehicles — you cannot miss history.
All this to say that if there is a way to join in, please do — if there is one thing I know, our industry is inclusive and looking forward to meeting you.
Stop by AGMA’s Booth No. 3132
AGMA is the owner of MPT Expo. This association is led by our 17-person board of directors, a team of 24 people, more than 400 volunteers, three publications, a training center outside of Chicago, and two offices. We exist solely to help those in the power transmission industry with standards, education, emerging technology, networking, sales leads, business intelligence, and so much more. We know a lot of people. Our members have been coming to this show and to other AGMA events for decades. Please come by our booth; tell us what you are looking for, and let us connect you with the people and businesses that you need to meet. We want your feedback; we want to share what is available to you, and we cannot wait to help you.
Help the future of Gearing By Eating Cookies
The AGMA Foundation has a unique way of raising money at the show for its scholarship program. On Wednesday, October 18, visit booth no. 2732 from 2-3 p.m. for fresh cookies made right in front of you. This delicious treat will be available for people to purchase through a donation to the Foundation. Not only does the Foundation use donations to help those in school at the technical/associate, undergraduate, or graduate levels through the scholarship program, but it funds many of the programs that AGMA has, including operator-level courses, many of the popular gearing education classes, the workforce training series, webinars, and so much more. Make sure to stop by and see how you can help develop the future workforce in our industry.
We are fully aware of the commitment — financial and workforce — that it takes to exhibit or attend MPT Expo. We appreciate you for being here. If there is anything that myself or the AGMA team can do to make this a memorable experience, please don’t hesitate to ask. Together, we drive power transmission innovation.
Upcoming Events
How to Read and Interpret a Gear Inspection Report
November 2, 2023 | Online
This half-day online seminar is intended to provide you with a thorough understanding of the information contained within a typical gear inspection report. Specifically, we will look at the contents and meaning of the information contained within the gear charts, as well as the techniques used by the gear measurement system to assess gear quality. An explanation of basic gear measurement techniques, how measurement equipment and test machines implement these techniques, and how to interpret the results from these basic measurements will be covered. We will also discuss how to interpret the results and what corrective actions may be considered if the quality of a particular gear is unsatisfactory.
Loaded Tooth Contact Analysis
November 9, 2023 | Online
Evaluation of loaded tooth contact and development of tooth modifications using commercially available software to improve Khb and optimize power density. Two real-life gearing examples will be presented in the course: One will have a cantilever mounted pinion, the other a shaft pinion straddled non-symmetrically by bearings. Both examples demonstrate component deflections under load, which significantly reduce tooth mesh contact that is then corrected with developed helix and profile modifications. Other gear performance optimization tools will also be briefly discussed: profile shift, isotropic finishing, shot peening, accuracy, and material selection.
Gear Failure Analysis
November 14-16, 2023 | Chicago, Illinois
Explore gear failure analysis in this hands-on seminar where students not only see slides of failed gears but can hold and examine more than 130 specimens with the same failure modes covered in the seminar. Approximately half of the course time consists of students in groups identifying failure modes on failed gears and working on a case study. Microscopes are available to examine failed specimens.
Fundamentals of Worm and Crossed Axis Helical Gearing
December 5-7, 2023 | San Diego, California
This course is intended to be both an overview of worm and wheel gearing, as well as an introduction to the application, design considerations, practical development techniques for manufacturing, and finally how best to apply worm and wheel technology. We will cover some design development, lubrication considerations, and failure modes and causes.
Gear Systems Design for Minimum Noise
December 5-7, 2023 | San Diego, California
The need for noise control and its relation to gear drive design will be discussed. The general nature of noise and its measurement will be examined, with particular emphasis on terminology standards, and units of measurement appropriate to gear technology. Gear noise, per se, is seldom heard by an observer. The mechanism by which observer-noticed noise is generated and transmitted will be defined, described, and discussed. Before attempting to solve a noise problem with an existing unit or beginning the design of a new unit, the nature of the noise must be defined. Both experimental and analytical methods will be covered, with particular emphasis on application rather than theory. The many factors that influence the noise produced by a gear system will be discussed. The relative effects of each factor will be studied qualitatively. Factors to be considered include gear-tooth geometry and accuracy, speed, materials, housing design, bearing type, gear type, air entrapment, root clearance, interference alignment, surface finish, and phasing. Although, ideally, the designer should solve noise problems on the drawing board, in the real world this sometimes does not occur. Various techniques that can reduce the noise level of existing gear systems without requiring major hardware replacement will be presented and discussed. Included in the discussion will be enclosures, absorbers, dissipative dampers, isolators (gearbox and gear blank), and impulse phasing.
AGMA Foundation
There is still time to give to the AGMA Foundation. The Foundation Scholarship Program was created to fill the need for skilled employees in the gear industry. Scholarships are awarded to outstanding full-time and part-time students at three levels: associate/technical, undergraduate and graduate. With your financial gift, you can make an impact on students by advancing education.
2024 AGMA Education Calendar
January 17–18 — Involute Spline Design & Rating — Online
January 23 — Analytical Gear Chart Interpretation — Online
January 30–February 8 — Gear Materials — Online
February 13 — Design Basics for Spur & Helical Gear — Online
February 19–20 — EV – Gears & Bearings 1 — Dallas, Texas
February 21–22 — EV – Gears & Bearings 2 — Dallas, Texas
February 27–March 7 — Gearbox CSI — Online
March 14–16 — AGMA/ABMA Annual Meeting — Napa, California
April 8–12 — Basic Training For Gear Manufacturing — Chicago, Illinois
April 16–19 — Detailed Gear Design — Alexandria, Virginia
April 23–25 — EV – Gears & Bearings 3 — Detroit, Michigan
April 24 3D — Printing Tour @Rapid — Anaheim, California
April 23–24 — Integrations & Trade–Offs in Gear & Bearing Systems — Detroit, Michigan
May 7–9 — Gear Manufacturing & Inspection — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
May 16 — Analytical Gear Chart Interpretation — Online
May 21–23 — Gear Failure Analysis — Chicago, Illinois
June 4–6 — Gearbox Systems Design — Clearwater Beach, Florida
June 13 — Loaded Tooth Contact Analysis — Online
June 17–18 — Involute Spline Design & Rating — Online
June 25–27 — Fundamentals of Gear Design & Analysis — Rosemont, Illinois
July 24–25 — Operator Precision Gear Grinding — Online
July 30–August 1 — Bevel Gear Systems Design — Rosemont, Illinois
August 6–8 — Gear Heat Treatment Operations — Cleveland, Ohio
August 12–13 — Operator Hobbing & Shaper Cutting — Chicago, Illinois
August 14–15 — Basic Gear Inspection for Operators — Chicago, Illinois
August 14–15 — Reverse Engineering — Online
August 20 — How to Read & Interpret a Gear Inspection Report — Online
September 10 — Design Basics for Spur & Helical Gears — Online
September 16–20 Basic Training for Gear Manufacturing Chicago, Illinois
October 7–9 — Fall Technical Meeting — Chicago, Illinois
October 16–17 — Condition Monitoring — Online
October 22–24 — Gear Failure Analysis — Chicago, Illinois
November 12–21 — Gear Systems Design for Minimum Noise — Online
December 3 — How to Read & Interpret a Gear Inspection Report — Online
