Fundamentals of Gear Design and Application
I.D. # C0223 Duration 2 Days
Through informative discussions and detailed explanations, this seminar will provide a solid and fundamental understanding of gear geometry, types and arrangements, and design principles. Starting with the basic definitions of gears, conjugate motion, and the Laws of Gearing, those attending will be given the tools needed to understand the inter-relation and coordinated motion operating within gear pairs and multi-gear trains. Basic gear system design process and gear measurement and inspection techniques will also be explained. In addition, the fundamentals of understanding the step-wise process of working through the iterative design process required to generate a gear pair will be reviewed, and attendees will also briefly discuss the steps and issues involved in design refinement and some manufacturing considerations. Also, an explanation of basic gear measurement techniques, how measurement equipment and test machines implement these techniques, and how to interpret the results from these basic measurements will be covered.
Learning Objectives
By attending this seminar, you will be able to:
  • Describe the "Law of Gearing," conjugate action and specifically, involute profiles
  • Review the various definitions and terms used in gearing
  • Identify the function and operation of all gear arrangements
  • Appraise preliminary design considerations and the gear system design process
  • Explain practical gear measurement and inspection techniques, tools and equipment
  • Recognize "Best Practices" in regards to gear system design
  • Discuss some of the new and automated gear design systems
Who Should Attend
The intended audience for this seminar is powertrain engineers, engineering directors and managers, component suppliers, vehicle platform powertrain development specialists, and those involved in the design and application of geared systems and assemblies. This seminar will appeal to anyone who is interested in gears, gear systems, design development or measurement and inspection techniques.

More specifically, anyone responsible for the following will benefit:

  • Mechanical power transmission system design, development, durability assessment and application
  • Application and development of geared systems technologies
  • Management of transmission designers and manufacturers
  • Supply of components and sub-systems to mechanical power transmission system manufacturers

Prerequisites
Attendees should have an undergraduate engineering degree to attend this program. This seminar is intended for powertrain engineers, engineering directors and managers, component suppliers, vehicle platform powertrain development specialists, and those involved in the design and application of geared systems and assemblies. Anyone who is interested in gears, gear systems, design development or measurement and inspection techniques should attend.
Seminar Content
DAY ONE
  • Principles of Gears
    • Purpose of gears
    • Basic concepts -- Law of gearing; common tooth forms
    • Classification of gears
    • Definitions and terms used in gearing
    • Velocity ratio
    • Pitch surfaces
  • Gear Tooth Action
    • Conjugacy
    • Profile curves
    • Surface of action
    • Profile sliding
  • Gear Geometry and Nomenclature
    • Principle of planes
    • Tooth nomenclature
    • Blank nomenclature
  • Gear Arrangements
    • Simple gear train
    • Compound gear train -- ratios
    • Epicyclic -- configurations (solar, planetary, star); ratios; tooth number selection and build requirements; application
  • Preliminary Design Considerations
    • Gear type selection
    • Preliminary estimate of size
    • Stress formulations
    • Gear Drawing Data
DAY TWO
  • Gear System Design Process
    • Calculation of gear tooth data
    • Gear rating practice
  • Gear Design Process
    • Layout
    • Root geometry
    • Backlash
  • Gear Measurement and Inspection
    • Dimension over pins
    • Pin diameter
    • Modify pin diameter and dimension over pins
    • Pin contact point
    • Charts - involute; lead; red liner
    • Dimension sheet
  • Gear Design Systems and Best Practices
    • Common proportions
    • Interchangeability
    • Tooling considerations
    • Mounting considerations
    • Best practices
    • Application
Instructor(s): W. Mark McVea
Dr. William Mark McVea, P.E., is currently Chief Technology Officer for Torvec, Inc., an industry leader in the design and development of patented powertrain engineering technology used primarily in the automotive industry. He is also President and Principal Engineer of KBE+, Inc. where Dr. McVea and his team design and develop complete powertrains for automotive and off-highway vehicles. His prior positions include Professor of Vehicle Dynamics and Powertrain Sciences in the Mechanical Engineering Department at the Rochester Institute of Technology and adjunct professor at Purdue University in their Automotive Sciences Department. He was also formerly a manager of the CAE group within a tier-one powertrain supplier to global automotive markets, a consulting engineer in vehicle dynamics with Gear Consultants, Inc., and a project manager of traction systems for off-highway vehicles with Clark-Hurth International. Dr. McVea has published extensively on the topics of transmission systems, automated design assistant systems, knowledge systems and knowledge based engineering in general. He also holds or is listed as co-inventor on numerous patents related to mechanical power transmissions. Dr. McVea holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the Rochester Institute of Technology, a Ph.D. in Design Engineering from Purdue University and is a licensed Professional Engineer.
Testimonial
"Highly recommended; being new to the gear measuring field, the instructor was able to easily make me understand what I previously believed to be a cryptic science."
Jason D. Cron
Instrumentation Specialist
Toyota Motor Manufacturing NA, Inc.

"Instructor was fantastic and had a true practical value. Comfortable environment to ask questions and good discussion of automotive gear applications. Good class involvement."
Sean M. Johns
Design Engineer
Magna Advanced Technologies
Fees: $1225 SAE Members*: $980 - $1103
* The appropriate SAE Member discount will be applied through the Registration process.  Discounts vary according to level of membership: Elite Member 20%; Premium Member 15%; Classic Member 10%
CEU 1.3