Technical Articles

An insight into the technical side of Gear Design by KHK staff

KHK USA's engineering staff frequently contributes to technical publications. This page details the various articles that have been written by our staff on topics related to the design of gearing, the types of gearing, and how gears are used throughout the industry. 

When the Coronavirus Pandemic is Over - The pandemic has changed many facets of life. How has it affected the gear industry? - by Brian Dengel - Originally published in Gear Solutions Magazine - May 2021 

I have a Question about Your Gears! - Providing Good information isn’t always easy – especially if the answer is based on bizarre questions and misconceptions about gearing. - by Brian Dengel - Originally published in Gear Solutions Magazine - May 2021 

Mounting Accuracy is a Key Issue in Gear System Design - Understanding how Mounting Accuracy Affects Gearing Performance. - by Brian Dengel - Originally published in Gear Solutions Magazine - April 2021 

The Importance of Contact Ratios - How to Calculate the Contact Ratios for Various Styles of Gearing. - by Brian Dengel - Originally published in Gear Solutions Magazine - March 2021

Addendum Modification and Undercut - How to calculate the coefficient of profile shift to achieve addendum modification to eliminate undercut - by Brian Dengel - Originally published in Gear Solutions Magazine - Feb 2021

Finding the Ideal Material for Gears - by Brian Dengel - Originally published in Gear Solutions Magazine - Jan 2021

How do Shaft Alignment and Speed Ratio Affect My Design? - Your Choice of Gear Style Will Depend on Your Desired Output Speed and Direction. by Brian Dengel - Originally published in Gear Solutions Magazine - Dec 2020

Heat Treating Carbon & Alloy Steels - What are the different methods for heat treating steel? by Brian Dengel - Originally published in Gear Solutions Magazine - Oct 2020

Are Your Gears Compliant? -- What Makes a Gear RoHS or REACH Compliant under U.S. and EU Regulations? by Brian Dengel - Originally published in Gear Solutions Magazine - Sept 2020

What Precisely is My Gear Made Of? -- Almost 90 Percent of the Steel Produced is Carbon Steel, but... by Brian Dengel - Originally published in Gear Solutions Magazine - Aug 2020

Precision Gearing: Accuracy and Tolerances -- Understanding the Meaning of Precision and the Real Requirements of Your Application by Brian Dengel - Originally published in Gear Solutions Magazine - July 2020

Determining Tooth Thickness of Various Gear Types (Part III) -- How to Calculate the Nominal Values of Over-Pin or Ball Measurement of Teeth of Various Types of Gearing by Brian Dengel - Originally published in Gear Solutions Magazine - June 2020

Determining Tooth Thickness of Various Gear Types (Part II) -- How to Calculate the Nominal Values of Span Measurement of Teeth of Various Types of Gearing by Brian Dengel - Originally published in Gear Solutions Magazine - May 2020

Determining Tooth Thickness of Various Gear Types -- How to Calculate the Nominal Values of Chordal Tooth Thickness in All Types of Gearing by Brian Dengel - Originally published in Gear Solutions Magazine - April 2020

What is a Standard Anyway? by Brian Dengel - Originally published in Gear Solutions Magazine - March 2020

Understanding Dimensional Stability in Gearing -- How Temperature and Humidity Can Affect Materials Used in Gearing by Brian Dengel - Originally published in Gear Solutions Magazine - Feb 2020

Crossed Helical Gearing a.k.a. Screw Gears -- How Using Different Helix Angles Can Produce Unique Gear Combinations by Brian Dengel - Originally published in Gear Solutions Magazine - Jan 2020 

Internal Ring Gears -- Design & Considerations by Brian Dengel - Originally published in Gear Solutions Magazine - Dec 2019

Gear Mesh and Tooth Modifications -- The Involute Gear Form Allows for a Fluid Mesh of the Teeth as They Slide along One Another by Brian Dengel - Originally published in Gear Solutions Magazine - Oct 2019

What is a Gear Engineer? --  Skilled Engineers Design Single- and Multi-Stage Gear Trains by Relying on Purpose and Application to Generate the Proper Power by Brian Dengel - Originally published in Gear Solutions Magazine - Sept 2019

What Do You Do? I Sell Gears!  --  What Reaction Do You Get at a Cocktail Party when You Try to Explain Your Profession? by Brian Dengel - Originally published in Gear Solutions Magazine - Aug 2019

Standards in Terminology for Bevel Gearing --Knowing the Proper Terminology is Key for Understanding Bevel Gear Design by Brian Dengel - Originally published in Gear Solutions Magazine - July 2019

I Graduated; Now I am an Engineer!?! -- Does an Undergraduate Engineering Education Make Someone an Engineer? by Brian Dengel - Originally published in Gear Solutions Magazine - June 2019

Achieving Zero-Backlash in Worm Gear Pairs - Unique Duplex Worm Gear Pairs Minimize Backlash in Reversing Applications by Brian Dengel - Originally published in Gear Solutions Magazine - May 2019

Standards in Terminology for Gearing - Knowing the Proper Terminology is Key for Understanding Gear Design by Brian Dengel - Originally published in Gear Solutions Magazine - April 2019

Parallelism, Perpendicularity, and Misalignment - The Proper Alignment of Gears in Mesh is Critical for their Proper Operation by Brian Dengel - Originally published in Gear Solutions Magazine - March 2019

Heat Treating Gears Improves Surface Durabilitby Brian Dengel - Originally published in Gear Solutions Magazine - Feb 2019

When Someone Gives You the Shaft - Many Methods Exist for Securing Gears to a Shaft... by Brian Dengel - Originally published in Gear Solutions Magazine - Jan 2019

The Key to a Proper Fit for Keyways by Brian Dengel - Originally published in Gear Solutions Magazine - Dec 2018

Bore Tolerances for Gears by Brian Dengel - Originally published in Gear Solutions Magazine - Oct 2018

The Benefits of Converting from Spur Gearing to Helical Gearing by Brian Dengel - Originally published in Gear Solutions Magazine - Sept 2018

A Primer on Backlash and its Purpose in Gear Designs by Brian Dengel - Originally published in Gear Solutions Magazine - Aug 2018

Converting Rotary to Linear Motion using Rack & Pinion by Brian Dengel - Originally published in Gear Solutions Magazine - July 2018

Worms & Worm Wheels - A Primer by Brian Dengel - Originally published in Gear Solutions Magazine - June 2018

Increasing Surface Contact with Ground Gears by Brian Dengel - Originally published in Gear Solutions Magazine - May 2018

Cones are not just for Ice Cream - There are many distinct styles of Bevel Gearing, but one thing they have in common is that each operates as a rolling cone by Brian Dengel - Originally published in Gear Solutions Magazine - April 2018

Is It Strong Enough? - The Selection of Plastic as a Material for Gearing Applications by Brian Dengel - Originally published in Gear Solutions Magazine - March 2018

What are You Made of? - Different Materials Make Gears Suitable for the Desired Application by Brian Dengel - Originally published in Gear Solutions Magazine - Feb 2018

Making the Best Selection - There are Different Types of Gears to Choose From Depending on the Orientation of the Application by Brian Dengel - Originally published in Gear Solutions Magazine - Jan 2018

Exploring the Hows and Whys of Choosing the Proper Center Distance for your Gearing Requirements by Brian Dengel - Originally published in Gear Solutions Magazine - Dec 2017 

How the Jetsons Undermined the Understanding of an Entire (gear) Industry by Brian Dengel - Originally published in Design World Magazine - Nov 2017

Plastic Gears are the Future by Brian Dengel - Originally published in Machine Design Magazine - Nov 2017

Understanding the How and Why of Choosing the Right Pitch can make all the Difference in the Successful Design of High-Quality Gears by Brian Dengel - Originally published in Gear Solutions Magazine - Oct 2017 

Understanding the Choice of Pressure Angle in the Design of Spur or Helical Gearing by Brian Dengel - Originally published in Gear Solutions Magazine - Sept 2017