Tooth clearance in gear manufacturing
The tooth clearance, also known as axial play, is an important factor when designing and manufacturing gears. It is the distance measured between two parallel planes of the gear teeth. It is specified to ensure that the gear teeth, pinion and gear arbor can move freely within a certain range, and also to ensure that the meshing and engagement of the teeth is smooth and efficient.
Tooth Clearance is generally divided into two parts: normal tooth clearance and gear engagement clearance. The normal tooth clearance is used when the gear is not working while the gear engagement clearance is used when the gear is rotating. The amount of tooth clearance varies depending on the type of gear, the parameters of the gear, the process of manufacturing and the quality of the materials used.
The typical manufacturing practice for gear teeth is to use the clearance either on the tip or root of the gear. This clearance should be between 0.0002 and 0.0015 inches. This clearance allows for easier assembly and a smoother engagement of the gear teeth. The amount of clearance can also be varied depending on the type of gear and the operating environment.
The clearance for gear manufacturing should be designed to prevent surface pitting and tooth breakage, improper gear contact, and gear meshing interference. In order to achieve the desired performance, it is important to ensure that the gear engagement clearance is not too wide and that the gear teeth have sufficient play. In addition, proper gear meshing engagement should be ensured by proper material selection, proper machining and proper assembly.
In conclusion, tooth clearance is an important factor when it comes to gear manufacturing and should be taken into account when manufacturing gears. The amount of tooth clearance should be determined based on the operating environment and the type of gear, and should be between 0.0002 and 0.0015 inches. Proper gear meshing engagement should also be ensured by proper material selection, proper machining and proper assembly.
