Choice of Gear Strength Programs

[morris9791]

Dear Experts,

Currently we are using the Fairfield gear strength program (DOS mode!) for many years to design our gears and to obtain gear manufacturing data.

I see that AGMA have 2 programs of particular interest namely: AGMA ‘Gear Rating Suite’ version 2.2 and the ‘Bevel Gear Rating Suite’.

Does anyone recommend an upgrade to using the AGMA software?
For example, does this program offer gear design optimisation in terms of noise reduction etc, higher load capacity, lower backlash? I would have to convince my boss to spend a few grand if we were to upgrade.

Perhaps there are other sources for calculating gear strength and optimisation?
Any information or suggestions will be appreciated.

Best Regards
Eddie

 

[CoryPad]

Here are two other options:

http://www.kisssoft.de/english/products/kisssoft_gear.php

http://www.hexagon.de/zar_e.htm

You should try to get a free evaluation of the AGMA software and these two before making a final decision.

 

[israelkk]

Fairfield has a free new Web based upgraded version of their gear strength too.

http://www.fairfieldgeardesignsoftware.com/

 

[Spurs]

Another software option is

http://www.webgearservices.com

This is a very cost effective and complete package

 

[tbuelna]

morris9791,

KISSoft is probably the best gear design software, but it is also the most expensive. KISSoft can be configured to use the AGMA or DIN standards. But as with many design softwares, it has lots of input variables that you will need to validate with your own testing.

Designing high performance gears is more art than science. Knowing how to tweak a standard gear profile to get the best performance is something that only can be learned from experience. Applications like KISSoft will allow you to input all kinds of geometry mods and will give you a result. But knowing what mods are required in the first place is something only an experienced gear designer would know. Basically, it's garbage in, garbage out.

UTS is also a fairly decent software package:

http://www.uts.us.com/

Regards,
Terry

 

[morris9791]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for your input. I will review these programs before I make a decision.
I was also recommended MITcalc 3D. Is any one familiar with this program?
I think I would have to benchmark any programs against our own before we are confident of using it full time. Any suggestions?

Best Regards
Eddie

 

[dinjin]

I think little has been done in the way of strength calculations but a lot has been done with life calculations.
If you were happy with the results Fairfield was giving you, why would you want to change unless you meant life caculations?

 

[israelkk]

Fairfield calculates life cycle and fatigue including accomulating fatigue of different load cases.