Gears are essential for enabling torque transfer. Out of the many types of gear, the bevel is among the most commonly used. Bevel gears are used when two shafts intersect at 90 degrees and power needs to be transferred between them. The pitch surface of this gear type is referred to as a pitch cone, owing to its shape. This gear can be further classified into three types – straight, spiral and hypoid – each with its own advantages and disadvantages. 
 

Pros and cons of the straight, spiral, and hypoid gears

Straight gear
Pros: Straight bevel gears are the simplest and most common type. They are often cheaper than their counterparts as they are easy to manufacture. Straight gears are also strong and durable.

Cons: Straight gears can be noisy and require more maintenance than other types.
 

Spiral gears
Pros: Spiral gears have teeth that are cut at an angle, which gives them a smoother operation. They are quieter than straight gears and require less maintenance. 

Cons: Spiral gears are more expensive. They also have a limited translation range and are not ideal for high-speed reduction tasks.

Hypoid gears
Pros: Hypoid gears have teeth that are cut at a different angle from the other two types, which gives them even better noise and vibration characteristics. They can also be used with other types of gear. It also requires minimal installation space.

Cons: They are the most expensive type of bevel gear. They are not suitable for fast-paced applications. Industries often prefer planetary gearboxes over hypoid gearboxes.

No matter which type of gear you choose, it is important to make sure that you source it from a dependable manufacturer like True Gear & Spline. We offer custom-manufactured gears to meet your specific requirements. We use CNC machining for gear cutting to ensure high precision. Contact us today for more information.