Home
Back
Gear Reduction Formula:
| From: | To: |
Gear reduction is a mechanical principle that uses gears to reduce rotational speed while increasing torque. It's expressed as a ratio comparing the number of teeth on the driven gear to the number of teeth on the driver gear.
The gear reduction formula is:
Where:
Explanation: A ratio greater than 1 indicates speed reduction and torque increase, while a ratio less than 1 indicates speed increase and torque reduction.
Details: Gear reduction is essential in various applications including automotive transmissions, industrial machinery, robotics, and power tools. It allows matching motor speed to required output speed while maintaining adequate torque.
Tips: Enter the number of teeth for both driven and driver gears. Values must be positive integers. The calculator will display the gear reduction ratio in the format X:1.
Q1: What does a 4:1 gear ratio mean?
A: A 4:1 ratio means the output shaft rotates once for every four rotations of the input shaft, with output torque approximately four times the input torque.
Q2: Can gear reduction be less than 1?
A: Yes, a ratio less than 1 indicates a speed increase system where the output rotates faster than the input, but with reduced torque.
Q3: How does gear reduction affect efficiency?
A: While gear reduction increases torque, some energy is lost to friction. Typical gear efficiencies range from 90-98% per gear mesh.
Q4: What's the difference between gear reduction and gear ratio?
A: Gear reduction specifically refers to ratios greater than 1 (speed reduction), while gear ratio can describe any ratio including those less than 1 (speed increase).
Q5: How do I calculate the output torque?
A: Output torque ≈ Input torque × Gear ratio × Efficiency. For example, with 10 Nm input, 4:1 ratio, and 95% efficiency: Output ≈ 10 × 4 × 0.95 = 38 Nm.