Chapter No.

9
Measurement of Spur Gear

Prof. S.S.SHINDE
Learning Objectives
 Introduction

 Basic Terminology of Spur Gear

 Elements to be measure

 Measurement of individual elements

Introduction
 Gears are mainly used for transmission of power and
motion. In order that the rotary motion of the driven
shaft be perfectly uniform relative to the driving shaft,
it is essential that both gears be of perfect
geometrical form and be perfectly mounted on perfect
shafts running in perfect bearings. It is thus obvious
that a big factor which decides the accuracy of
gearing is the precision with which gears are
manufactured. For closer control over the accuracy of
manufacture, precision measurement of gears plays
a vital role
Gear Terminology
 Gear Terminology
Pitch Circle Diameter (P.C.D.). It is the diameter of a circle which by pure rolling action
would produce the same motion as the toothed gear wheel. 
Diametral Pitch. It is expressed as the number of teeth per inch of the P.C.D. P = N/D
Circular Pitch (CP.). It is the arc distance measured around the pitch circle from the flank
of one tooth to a similar flank in the next tooth. .-. CP. p= πD/N = πm
Base Pitch. It is the circular pitch measured around the base circle = Cp cos()
Addendum. This is the radial distance from the pitch circle to the tip of the tooth. Its value
is equal to one module.
Clearance. This is the radial distance from the tip of a tooth to the bottom of a mating
tooth space when the teeth are symmetrically engaged. Its standard value is 0.157 m.
Dedendum. This is the radial distance from the pitch circle to the bottom of the tooth
space.
Dedendum = Addendum + Clearance = m + 0.157 m = 1.153 m.
Blank Diameter. This is the diameter of the blank from which gear is cut out. It is equal to
P.C.D. plus twice the addenda.
Blank diameter = P.C.D. + 2m = m N + 2m = m(N + 2).
Face of Tooth. It is that part of the tooth surface which is above the pitch surface.
Flank of Tooth. It is that part of the tooth surface which is lying below the pitch surface.
 Gear Measurement
Following Elements are to be checked while
carrying out gear measurement
Geometrical Parameters
 Tooth Thickness
 Addendum Depth
 Tooth Spacing Over ‘X’ Number of teeth
Functional Parameters
 Pitch Variation
 Involute profile
Functional Parameters while meshing
 Runout
 Backlash
 Contact Area
 Noise
 Tooth Thickness Measurement :
1. Chordal thickness : by gear tooth calliper
2.Constant Chord Method
3. Base tangent Method
4. Dimension over the wires
Thickness of the gear tooth measured at the
pitch line ( Chordal Thickness)

W = 2 AB
 = 360/4N = 90/N
as W = 2 AB : W =NM sin 
(W is the chord AC)
tooth thickness is specified as an arc ADC
 Chordal Thickness
Tooth thickness at the Pitch Line.

W = 2 AB
  = 360/4N = 90/N
 as W = 2 AB : W =NM sin 
 (W is the chord AC)
 tooth thickness is specified as an arc
ADC
Height at the pitch line

Height h = OE - OB
 h is the distance EB which is greater
 than the addendum ED
 h = 1/2NM (1 + 2/N – cos )
 or
 h = 1/2NM + M – 1/2NM Cos 
Tooth Thickness Measured by
a vernier
Chordal thickness example at the
pitch line
 Spurgear that has a module of 5 and
30 teeth 

W = 30 x 5 Sin (90/30) = 7.85mm

h = 1/2NM + M – 1/2NM Cos 
 h = 0.5 x 30 x 5 + 5 – 0.5 x 30 x 5 cos
90/30 = 5.1mm
 The Constant Chord Method
Property : - If an involute tooth is considered symmetrically in close
mesh with basic rack form , then it is observed that when gear
rotates and all teethes come in mesh with rack , for the given size of
tooth (same module), the contact is always occur at point two points
A & F as shown in fig. i.e the distance AF remains constant and
known as constant chord.
Constant Chord cont.

W = 0.5M Cos2 
 h = M – 0.25M Cos Sin
Measurement Over Rollers
A roller is placed between a pair of
teeth so that the its centre lies on the
pitch circle as shown on slide.
 For a gear with an odd number of teeth
a radial measurement is taken with the
gear between centres using a
comparator.
Measurement over Rollers
Measurement Over Rollers
cont.
 OA = ¼  M cos  (OA= radius of
rollers)
 Gauging Radius: Rg = ½ NM + ¼ M
cos
 Dimensions over a pair of Rollers in
opposite tooth spaces :
Dg = M(N + ½  cos  )
Example
 
 A 8 module gear has 20 teeth with a pressure angle
of 20. Calculate the distance over a pair of
appropriate rollers spaced 6 teeth apart. 
 Reference dia = MN = 8 x 20 = 160 mm
 Roller dia. = ½  M cos  = ½  x 8 cos 20 = 11.8
mm
 Rg = ½ NM + ¼ M cos = 0.5 x 160 x 0.951 =
76.08 mm
 Distance over rollers = 2 x 76.08 + 11.8 = 163.96 mm
Base Tangent Method
 = Pressure angle
 S =Number of tooth spaces contained
in W 
 W = arc AB + arc BC
Base Tangent Method cont.
 And when S tooth spaces are considered,
 arc BC = 2/N x S x NM/2 cos 
 AC =NM/2 cos  (tan - )
  = /2N radians
 Arc CD =Rp cos  /2N = NM/2 cos  /2N
 AB = NM cos  ( tan  – ) + /2N
 Total arc length for S spaces, W = NM
cos ((tan  – )+ /2N + S/N)
Span measurement over a number of
teeth with a vernier calliper
David Brown Tangent Comparator
Example
 Calculate the value of W over 4 teeth of a spur gear,
which has the following specifications. 
 M=3    = 14.5 N = 44
 As there are four teeth S = 3 
 14.5 x 2  / 360 = 0.2531 & tan 14.5 = 0.2586 
 (tan  -  ) = 0.0055 
W = NM cos ((tan  – )+ /2N + S/N)
 W = 44 x 3 x cos 14.5( 0.0055 +  / 2 x 44 + 3 / 44)

 W = 32.6389 mm
 BASE PITCH MEASUREMENT

This instrument has three tips. One is the fixed measuring tip, other one is the
sensitive tip whose position can be adjusted by a screw and the further
movement of it is transmitted through a leverage system to the dial indicator ;
and the third tip is the supplementary adjustable stop which is meant for the
stability of the instrument and its position can also be adjusted by a screw. The
distance between the fixed and sensitive tip is set to be equivalent to the base
pitch of the gear with the help of slip gauges. The properly set-up instrument is
applied to the gear so that all the three tips contact the tooth profile. The
reading on dial indicator is the error in the base pitch.
 Circular Pitch Measuring Machine.

This instrument is used for checking the circular pitch of gear tooth. The two
measuring contact tips are applied on the same sides of adjacent teeth of the gear.
The left-hand tip is first set up to the required module by means of some suitable
arrangement. The right hand tip is a two armed lever whose one contacts the gear
tooth and the other one actuates the contact point of the dial indicator. Two guide
points are also provided for the stability of the instrument.
Pitch variation measuring m/c

Schematic arrangement of a pitch checking instrument.

Runout Measurement
 Runout. Runout means the eccentricity in the reference or
pitch circle.

 Gears that are eccentric tend to have a vibration per revolution.

A badly eccentric tooth may cause an abrupt gear failure. The
runout in the gears is measured by employing gear eccentricity
testers. The gear is held on a mandrel in the centers and the dial
indicator of the tester possesses the special tip depending upon
the module of gear being checked. The tip is inserted in between
the tooth spaces. The gear is rotated tooth by tooth. The
maximum variation is noted from the dial indicator reading and it
gives the runout of the gear. The runout is twice the eccentricity. 
 Backlash Measurement

 Backlash in the gears is the play between the mating tooth

surfaces. For the purposes of measurement and calculations,
backlash is defined as the amount by which a tooth space
exceeds the thickness on an engaging tooth. Backlash in the
gear teeth results on account of errors in profile, pitch thickness
of teeth etc. It is measured by mounting the gears in specified
position. Backlash should be measured at the tightest point of
the mesh. The pinion is held solidly against rotation and a rigidly
mounted dial indicator is placed against the tooth at the extreme
heel perpendicular to the surface. The backlash is determined
by moving the gear back and forth. The backlash variation is
measured by locating the points of maximum and minimum
backlash in the pair and obtaining the difference. For precision
gears the variation should not exceed 0.02 to 0.03 mm.
 Composite Method of Gear Checking (Metrology)
 Composite testing of gears consists in measuring the variation
in centre distance when a gear is rolled in tight mesh (double
flank contact) with a specified or master gear.

The principle of this device is to mount a standard gear on a fixed vertical spindle and
the gear to be tested on another similar spindle mounted on a sliding carriage,
maintaining the gears in mesh by spring pressure. Movements of the
sliding carriage as the gears are rotated are indicated by a dial indicator, and these
variations are a measure of any irregularities in the gear under test; alternatively a
recorder can be fitted, in the form of a waxed circular chart and records made of the gear
variation in accuracy of mesh.