Terminology and definitions of gear blanks in reducers

A reducer is a device that converts high-speed rotation of an input shaft into low-speed, high torque motion of an output shaft. Among various types of reducers, gear reducers are one of the most common types. The core component of a gear reducer is the gear, and the manufacturing process of the gear starts from the gear blank.

1. Overview of gear blanks

Gear blank refers to a gear blank that has undergone preliminary processing but has not yet undergone final forming treatment. It is the first step in manufacturing gears, usually made of steel, cast iron, or non-metallic materials.

2. Terms and definitions related to gear blanks

Billet: Refers to the raw material used to manufacture gear blanks, such as round bars or forgings.

Rough machining: refers to the initial process of removing excess material from gear blanks to form a rough gear shape.

Finishing: A step performed after rough machining to ensure that the gear blank achieves the required precision and surface finish.

Tip Diameter: Refers to the diameter of the circle formed by the outermost tooth tips on a gear.

Root Diameter: refers to the diameter of the circle formed by the innermost tooth root on a gear.

Module: It is a standard value that represents the number of teeth per millimeter of radial distance.

Pressure Angle: refers to the angle between the normal on the gear tooth profile and the radial direction of the gear.

Number of Teeth: Refers to the number of teeth on a gear.

Center Distance: refers to the distance between the centers of two meshing gears.

Backlash: refers to the clearance between meshing gears along the tooth surface, used to compensate for thermal expansion and wear.

3. The importance of gear blanks

The quality of gear blanks directly affects the accuracy, strength, and durability of gears. A good gear blank can ensure that the final gear has precise tooth profile and size, thereby improving the overall efficiency and reliability of the gearbox.

Gear blanks are the crucial first step in manufacturing high-quality gears. By understanding the terminology related to gear blanks, we can better evaluate the quality of gears and select reducers suitable for specific applications. With the advancement of manufacturing technology, the manufacturing of gear blanks will become more precise, further promoting the development of gearbox technology.