Checking accuracy

of gears
By GEOMETER of the gear,. would indicate an over
all eccentricrty, with the teeth cut,
or generated about another axis.

U
SING very simple workshop are subject to load, and wear more Substantial variations in readings
equipment, virtually with- than the others, as in operating a with the roller in closely adjacent
out calculation, it is possible cam, there inevitably arises a rhythmic teeth would indicate local wear in a
to establish whether spur gearing clatter. used gear, or errors in tooth thickness
Checking concentricity of tips of or pitch m a generated gear. In a cut
in its main dimensions and detail gear teeth about the axis can be done gear (one whose teeth have been
features, attains the expected pre- on a surface plate, mounting the gear shaped or formed with a slotting type
cision and uniformity-and if not, on a mandrel, and placing this in cutter), errors of tooth thickness and
where the errors occur. Thii can V-blocks, as at A. The most accurate pitch could exist without discovery
be particularly important for new test is made with a dial indicator on by this test, as they would lie in the
gearing: w h i l e t h a t w h i c h h a s the surface gauge; but a reasonable teeth, with all the spaces the same
been in use, can reveal, by com- one can be made with a scriber width.
parision with the new, or by com- pointer, followed by a close scrutiny With a gear tested for concentricity
if suspicions are aroused. over the tips of its teeth, uniformity
parision of worn teeth with good With the same set-up, but using a of their depth can be checked with a
ones-when wear has been irregu- roller in the teeth to make contact simple depth gauge, as at B. The body
lar, just to what extent this has approximately at the pitch circle, the of this can be part of a thick ring bored
progressed, and resulted in noise important condition can be estabhshed to the outside diameter of the gear,
and backlash. of the concentricity of this circle or can consist of a block bolted
Noticeable variations in thickness about the axis, the roller being between two plates cut from a thin
and spacing of teeth occasion back- changed from space to space and bored ring. A drilled hole accepts a
lash and errors of pitch leading to passed under the indicator. A gradual pm which can be filed half through on
whining in gears under load; and in change in indicator reading, with the top side, either with a small
applications where a few teeth only extreme readings on opposite sides shoulder or flush at X, to function like
a flush pin gauge. Then, with a roller
in the gear teeth, as at C, such a gauge
can be used for checking concentricity
of the pitch circle, and uniformity of
space width, a shoulder on the pin at Y.

0 D
Simple test
A large micrometer or gap gauge
with an adjustable anvil can be used
with rollers, as at D, in a simple test
checking for wear on teeth or varia-
tions in space width. Eccentricity of
the pitch circle would not be revealed,
however, and neither would varia-
tions in tooth thickness where there is
uniformity in space width.
For comprehensive checking, a
la’he is as good as anything, the gear
being mounted on a mandrel held
one end in the chuck, the other
supported by the tailstock centre.
Rotating the gear on the mandrel,
an indicator or pointer will prove con-
centricity of the tooth tips; and using
on the slide rest a holder with a turned
down end, and on this a sleeve with a
pointed nose, as at E, uniformity of
space width can be checked by con-
sistent clearance at Z-verifying with
feeler gauges. The cross slide should
not be moved, of course, the gear
being slid on the mandrel or the saddle
on the bed to change spaces. With a
V-jaw sleeve, as at F, tooth thickness
can be checked; and the two tests
together prove accuracy or otherwise
in tooth indexing.
12 JUNE 1958 753 MODEL ENGINEER