Surface Durability
Materials Matter : Roughness Measurement: Optical vs. Contact Stylus Profilometry
Optical profilometry will become an important tool for predicting gear performance with more research and development of an objective lens to fit into tooth spaces....
View MoreReport of the Condition of a General Electric Transportation Systems Gearbox
Wind power plant operation and maintenance (O&M) costs remain an appreciable contributor to the overall cost of wind energy, with a capacity-weighted average of $11/megawatt-hour (MWh) for projects installed since 2000 and $9/MWh for projects install...
View MoreMaterials Matter : Roughness Measurement Tips: Calibration, the Razor Blade Test
If a problem is found with a contact stylus profilometer during routine check with a Rubert-Song specimen, do a little troubleshooting before sending it off for calibration and recertification....
View MoreA Comparison of Surface Roughness Measurement Methods for Gear Tooth Working Surfaces
Surface roughness is a critical parameter for gears operating under a variety of conditions. It directly influences friction and contact temperature, and therefore has an impact on various failure modes such as macropitting, micropitting and scuffing...
View MoreSelecting media for optimum vibe bowl gear finishing
Choosing the best media depends on structure and shape of the tooth flank, and whether media components should be abrasive, non-abrasive, or a blend....
View MoreMaterials Matter: How to Set Up a Vibratory Bowl for Gear Finishing
The vibratory bowl is toroidal-shaped, consisting of a center hub surrounded by an OD wall. Direct drive machines have a motor and driveshaft set inside the center hub....
View MorePhysical Characteristics of the Vibratory Bowl and How They Affect Processing Efficiency
Vibratory bowls are outfitted with hot-poured polyurethane liners and their durometer hardness is an oft-cited characteristic. But what is durometer hardness and how is it useful?...
View MoreMeasuring Tooth Flank Roughness
Gear performance has continuously increased over the past two decades. Improvements in metals, heat treatments, geometry, and lubrication are just a few of the sources of these improvements....
View MoreFuture Advanced Rotorcraft Drive System (FARDS) Full Scale Gearbox Demonstration
The Future Advanced Rotorcraft Drive System (FARDS) program focused on improving the performance and affordability of current aircraft drive systems....
View MoreOil-Out Endurance Under the Lens
Oil-out conditions, or conditions in which an aircraft is operating without any oil in its gearbox or transmission, are devastating for an aircraft's hardware....
View MoreMaterials Matter: Lambda Ratio
The lambda ratio was originally developed to quantify the quality of lubricant operating regimes relative to bearing performance....
View MoreMaterials Matter: Micropitting
Micropitting is a gear failure mode that typically occurs when higher contact stresses are applied to hardened gear teeth. Unlike most other failure modes, micropitting does not always proceed to component failure if left unaddressed....
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