Involute Gear

From Computer Aided Design with Pro/Engineer (Part, Sketcher, Detail, Assembly, Mechanica, and Manufacturing) by Meung J. Kim, Ph.D., Professor Department of Mechanical Engineering Northern Illinois University
Gear is a toothed wheel whose teeth engages with another gears teeth to transmit force and motion from one gear to another. Three most common types are spur gears, bevel gears, and worm gears. The most common tooth profile is an involute curve with a 14.5o pressure angle. This angle is the contact angle between two gears when the tangents of two gears pass through the contact point. Gears with pressure angles of 20o and 25o are also used. The gear profile need not be detailed in conventional drawing that may be very time-consuming and it is possible to show only circular centerlines for root circle, pitch circle, and outside circle of the gear in the circular view with a table of dimensions called cutting data. Development of the mathematical equations for the involute curve uses simple trigonometry. The equations can be obtained referring to the following figure. The involute starts from the base circle.

Figure 4.4.3.2.7 Development of an involute curve From two similar triangles the following is obtained.

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Major spur gear dimensions can be completely specified by the diametral pitch and the number of teeth. Please refer to AGMA (American Gear Manufactures Association) and ANSI standards. In the following example, the spur gear with involute curve profile is created. Only partial invoute is needed for tooth profile and a quarter of base circle will be developed. The gear has the diametral pitch 4.0 and the number of teeth 24 and the pressure angle 20o. Other derived values are OD = 6.5 (outside diameter) PD = 6.0 (pitch diameter) BD = 5.375 (base diameter) RD = 5.25 (root diameter) t = 0.125 (circular thickness of the tooth at pitch circle)

There several methods to manufacutre gears such as casting, shaping, hobbing, and milling. They all begin with the circular plate with the outside diameter from which gear profiles are removed.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Sketch tool > sketch a circle with the outside diameter on FDP with the center at the origin Pick on the curve > Edit > Offset > select FDP for Reference > enter the offset 0.25. This is the addendum that defines the pitch circle. Pick the pitch circle and use Offset to enter the offset 0.3125. This is the dedundum that defines the base circle Pick the base circle and Offset > enter the offset 0.0625. This is the clearance that defines the root circle. Datum Axis > pick two datum planes to place it at the center of the circle to use for pattern later > OK Datum Curve > From Equation / Done > pick the default coordinate > Cartesian > enter the equation as below. This develops quarter of the circle (i.e., 90o).

7.

File > Save > exit the file. The involute curve appears that starts at the base circle on x-axis (i.e., on horizontal plane)

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This involute will be rotated by the angle in the figure and then mirrored about the TOP datum plane (this is the x-axis for involute). Edit > Feature Operations > Copy > Move / Done > pick the involute curve > OK (selection) > Rotate > Crv/Edge/Axis > pick the axis at the center of the revolved body > change the rotational direction to come out of the face > Okay > enter the angle 2.01709 > CR > Done Move > OK. Here, the angle was obtained from the gear formulas. Select the copied involute > click Mirror Now, the part appears as > pick the TOP datum plane > Done (feature)

9.

Figure 4.4.3.2.8 Offset circles and datum curve by equation 10. Extrude > Placement > Define > Sketch > check Previous > Sketch > Use Edge > check Loop > pick the circle > Done (sketch) > Options > enter both depths 0.5 > Done (feature). 11. Extrude > Material Removal > Placement > Define > check Previous > Sketch 12. Wireframe > zoom in to the area for sketch > Use Edge and select the circles and involutes > draw tangent lines > trim redundant lines > Done (sketch). Note that for clarity the fillets (radius = 0.02) at bottom of the cut are not shown below.

13. Options > select To Next for both depths > Done (feature). The model appears with a cut as above. 14. Pick the cut > Pattern > select Axis for pattern type from the dropdown list in the dashboard of pattern > pick the center axis > enter 24 for number of pattern and 15 for angle increment > select the counterclockwise direction > Done (feature) 15. Pick the datum curves > RMB > Hide > hide them all. The shape appears.

16. Make a cut through the part 17. Make a cutout (depth = 0.25) on one side and mirror it to the rear face.

Figure 4.4.3.2.9 Involute spur gear