Of the many gears manufactured and cut at True Gear and Spline, spur gears are one of the most popular. This is probably thanks to their widespread applications in all sorts of industries, such as the manufacturing and aerospace industries. On a smaller scale, they are also used in everyday appliances, and we interact with spur gears all the time likely without knowing it.

 

Spur gears have two main functions: power and speed.

 

In many appliances or machinery, spur gears are important components that generate torque, which is a force that causes rotation. For this reason, spur gears are essential to the function of appliances that rely on rotational force, such as washing machines, blenders, and other appliances we use in the home.

 

In conjunction with its abilities to generate torque, spur gears also regulate speed. Airplane engines are probably the easiest example here, but in terms of everyday appliances, you can see spur gears in action in devices such as electronic egg beaters and hand drills.

 

Notice that all these devices have one thing in common: they are all rather noisy. Spur gears have an involute profile, which means they only produce radial force and can only mesh one tooth at a time.  This causes a significant amount of friction and stress, resulting in a loud colliding noise when their teeth meet. For this reason, car engines tend to use helical gears.

 

With that said, it does not make much sense to replace all spur hears with helical gears, despite the advantages of helical gears in some areas. For one thing, spur gears are still the most cost-efficient type of gear to manufacture, which is why household appliances can remain relatively budget-friendly. Furthermore, they are considered more efficient than helical gears of the same size. This is probably due in part to the simplicity and straightforwardness of spur gears to install and design.

 

As you can see, there is a reason why many types of gears exist: each device, appliance, and machine has different needs that can be best satisfied by specific gears. It is indeed a complex process and industry, which is why experts like True Gear and Spline continue to work to find ways of making gear manufacturing a more efficient and effective process.