Avoid Failure and Downtime: Imperatives to Specify Gear Drives
The user and the system designer must be familiar with the variables that affect performance and service. Similarly, a gear manufacturer must know for what purpose the drive will be used, the demands to be placed upon it, and the nature of the equipment it will be driving. A number of factors enter into the selection of a gear drive, including:
- Service factor
- Drive rating
- Thermal capacity at the site’s ambient conditions
- Speed variation
- Equivalent horsepower
- Drive ratio
- Duty cycle
- External loading on the gear drive’s shafts
- Mounting configuration
- Physical size
All must be carefully evaluated to make the right decision. Take into account that tooth surfaces that show signs of wear or pitting should be candidates for future preventive maintenance programs. Additionally, fracture of a gear tooth will not only put the gear drive out of service, but could possibly do damage to bearings and shafts.
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