The spur gear’s instantly recognizable shape and basic function make it the typical “gear” most people equate with the generic term. However, spur gears are just one of several types of gear used to keep our machines in operation. Their simplicity makes them highly useful for a wide range of tasks, but they aren’t good at everything. In fact, there are at least four common applications where spur gears may not be the best solution:
- High loads. Spur gears are effective at transferring power, but there’s only so much load they can take. If you increase the load too much, spur gears can start to wear more easily, or even break. It’s better to have helical gears or other, more durable gears for these applications.
- Noise-sensitive environments. Noise is a somewhat superficial quality, but for applications in public or in areas that need to keep noise under control, it’s an important consideration. Spur gears tend to make noise because of the way their teeth mesh together (especially at high speeds). Helical gears, by contrast, allow for smoother, constant tooth contact, so the noise is significantly reduced.
- Angular moving components. Sometimes, your moving components will sit at an angle. When you’re faced with two perpendicular connecting shafts (or ones connecting at imperfect angles), spur gears won’t be able to transfer motion correctly. For these applications, bevel gears, which translate motion to intersecting shafts, are more appropriate.
- Reducing power. Spur gears also aren’t effective at reducing power in a machine. For that application, you’ll need to rely on worm gears.
Are you looking for a gear to accomplish one of these goals? Are you planning a project that needs spur gears manufactured? Either way, we’ve got you covered. Reach out to Federal Gear today and we’ll start planning your project.