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Gears

# Gear Basics

Gears have teeth that mesh with other gears in order to transmit torque. Gears can be used to change the speed, torque (turning force), or direction of a motor’s original output. For gears to be compatible with each other, the meshing teeth must have the same shape (size and pitch).
Gears offer more flexibility in transforming motion than sprockets and chain because there are a larger variety of gear sizes available.
There are many different types of gears; one of the simplest and most commonly used is a spur gear, and that is the gear type used in the REV 15mm Build System. Spur gears consist of a disk with straight teeth projecting radially (outward from the center) and these gears will only mesh correctly with other gears if they are on parallel shafts.

## Anatomy of a Spur Gear

Common and important features of a spur gear are highlighted in the image below.
Number of Teeth
Module
Pitch Diameter
Outside Diameter
Number of Teeth (N) is the total count of the number of teeth (projections) around the whole circumference of a gear. For gears with very few or very large teeth it is easy to simply count the number of teeth. However, for gears with a higher number of teeth, or when the teeth are smaller, attempting to count the teeth is not very practical or accurate.
Module (M) represents the amount of pitch diameter in mm per tooth. Gears with a higher module will have bigger teeth. Module (M) can be calculated using some combination of pitch diameter (PD), number of teeth(N), or outside diameter(OD).
Equations for calculating module:
• $M = PD/ N$
• $M = OD/( N + 2)$
To help with calculations: REV Plastic Gears have a 0.75 module, while REV Metal Gears have a 0.8 module.
Pitch Diameter (PD) is the imaginary circle that mates with any other gear’s pitch diameter when the gears are properly spaced. The pitch diameter will always be smaller than the outside diameter of a gear.
When creating simplified models for gears, first create a circle with the pitch diameter for each gear used in the system then constrain the circles tangent (just barely touching) to each other. Pitch Diameter (PD) can be calculated using some combination of module(M), number of teeth (N), or outside diameter (OD).
Equations for calculating pitch diameter:
• $PD = M ×N$
• $PD = (OD × N) / (N + 2)$
• $PD = OD -2M$
Outside Diameter (OD) is the true outside diameter of a gear. The outside diameter will always be larger than the pitch diameter. The outside diameter should be used when checking for interference when placing gears very close to other structures. Outside Diameter (OD) can be calculated using the formula below.
Equations for outside diameter:
• $OD = ( N+2) × M$

## Product Specifications

The REV 15mm Build System includes both Metal and Plastic Gears. The table below covers some of the basic specifications for the different types of gears.
Plastic
Metal
Module
0.75
0.8
Pressure Angle
20°
20°
Material
Acetal (Delrin/POM)
7075-T6 Aluminum†
Thickness
15mm
5mm
† The majority of Metal Gears in the REV 15mm are made using aluminum. There are three exceptions. The 12 Tooth and 28 Tooth Gears are made out of Sintered Steel. The 12 Tooth Pinion Gear is made out of Machined Brass.
Both the Metal and Plastic Gears are compatible with M3 hardware with a 8mm pitch.

### Plastic Gears

All REV Robotics Plastic Gears have a M3 bolt hole mounting pattern that is on an 8mm pitch. This makes it easy to directly mount REV Robotics Brackets and Extrusion to gears. The webbed design, combined with a wide face width and small tooth profile, increases the gear strength without adding significant weight. REV Robotics Plastic Gears are designed to fit a 5mm hex shaft which eliminates the need for special hubs and setscrews.
REV Metal Gears are NOT compatible with REV Plastic Gears. Gears from other building systems may have a very similar tooth profile but are not an exact match. It may be possible to use the two gears systems together successfully in some situations, but it is not recommended.

### Metal Gears

Metal Gears are designed to work with REV 5mm Hex Shafts in high-load applications. REV Robotics Metal Gears also have a M3 hole pattern, but this pattern focuses on allowing gears to be doubled up for additional strength. In general, the REV Metal Gears have a higher yield strength than the REV Plastic Gears, especially when the metal gears are doubled up. Thickness of the gear teeth, known as face width, is a core component of gear strength.
The face of the REV Metal Gears displays the gears tooth count to help with calculations!
All REV Metal Gears are narrower than plastic gears, allowing for compact drivetrains and gearboxes within the same 15mm width as the Extrusion and Punch Tube (REV-41-1453).

# Using Gears as a Powertrain

Meshing two or more gears together is known as a gear train. Selecting the gears in the gear train as larger or smaller relative to the input gear can either increase the output speed, or increase the output torque but the total power is not affected.
A gear ratio is the ratio of the sizes of two gears. For instance, in the image below, the input gear is a 15 tooth gear and the output gear is a 72 tooth gear. So, the gear ratio is 72T:15T. The ratio in size from the input (driving) gear to the output (driven) gear determines if the output is faster (less torque) or has more torque (slower). The gear ratio is proportional to the speed and torque changes between them.
To learn more about gear ratios and how they affect speed and torque check out the Gear Ratio section
In the image above, the 15 tooth input gear is rotating clockwise. As the input gear rotates, it pushes down on the output gear where the teeth are meshed. This action transmits the motion to the output gear, but forces the output gear to rotate in the opposite direction of the input gear.
One way to change change the direction of rotation in a gear train is to add idlers. Idlers sit between the input and output gear in a gear train and can help you manipulate the rotation of the output gear. To learn more about idlers check out the Idler section
If you are using gears to transmit motion over long distances, like in a drivetrain, please check out the Gear Train section to understand more about how to properly employ that sort of mechanism.

# How to Use REV Gears?

As mentioned in the Specifications section, REV Gears work with the 5mm Hex Shaft to drive motion along a a gear train. To learn more about using Hex Shafts and proper motion support and constraint visit the pages linked below:

## Gear Spacing

In order for gears to work effectively, and not become damaged, it’s important that the center-to-center distance is correctly adjusted. The gears in DETAIL A, of the figure below, may work under very light load, but they will certainly not work and will skip under any significant loading. The gears in that example are too far apart and so the teeth of each gear barely contact each other. The gears in DETAIL B are correctly spaced and will provide smooth and reliable operation.
To learn more about calculating center-to-center distance for Gears visit the Spacing and Center to Center Distance section

## Gear Alignment Mark

Sometimes in a design it may be desirable to stack together multiples of the same gear on a shaft to increase the load carrying capacity of the gears. In the case where the number of teeth on the gear is not divisible by six, because of how they are oriented when put onto the hex shaft, the teeth may not be aligned between the two gears. To ensure all of the gears are clocked the same way, use the alignment shaft notch to put all the gears on the shaft with the same orientation.
Being aware of the alignment mark will ensure all of the gear teeth are aligned on the shaft. The figure below is an example of a basic robot arm which may have to lift a heavy load. Using two gears to lift the arm doubles the material interfacing with the hex shaft and will allow the arm to perform with heavier loads.