Inspecting Plastic Gears

The inspection of precision gears requires specialty gear checking equipment. This is the only means of assuring proper accuracy, consistency and quality of the involute geometry. There are many factors that impact the overall performance of a gearing system. Inaccuracies in gear geometry often cause problems from tooth fracture to undesirable noise. The ability to check and understand these parameters is often lacking in a typical molding environment.

Double Flank Composite Gear Checking
PGS can provide state of the art gear inspection through use of functional gear inspection methods as well as analytical. The two methods differ in that one is used for "functional" inspection (double/single flank roll testing) and the other is used to evaluate "elemental" (analytical gear inspection) aspects of the gear. Functional gear inspection provides very useful data regarding how the gear will actually perform. It is typically used for "in process" inspection providing a general overview of the gears accuracy. Gearing parameters such as total composite error, tooth to tooth error and test pitch radius can be evaluated to determine the quality and accuracy of gear geometry.

Analytical Gear Inspection
Analytical inspection provides data with regard to individual elements of the gear; run out, lead variation, tooth-spacing and profile error. This method is used more for troubleshooting. Through use of analytical inspection the source of error can be pinpointed.

Video of a Test in Action: 

Hofler ZP260 Analytical Gear Inspection Machine at Performance Gear Systems.

See also
DFGT - Double Flank Gear Testing
- Modern Machine Shop