1. What is Gear Speed Reduction?

Gear speed reduction is the process of decreasing the rotational speed from the input (motor) to the output (driven component) using a gear system. The reduction ratio determines how much the speed is decreased.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the gear speed reduction formula:

Where:

• Input Speed — Rotational speed of the driving gear (rpm)
• Gear Ratio — Ratio of teeth between driven gear and driving gear
• Output Speed — Resulting rotational speed of the driven gear (rpm)

Explanation: The gear ratio is calculated as (teeth on driven gear)/(teeth on driving gear). A higher ratio means greater speed reduction.

3. Importance of Gear Ratio Calculation

Details: Proper speed reduction is crucial for matching motor speed to application requirements, increasing torque, and improving mechanical efficiency.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter input speed in rpm and gear ratio (must be greater than 0). The gear ratio can be calculated by dividing the number of teeth on the driven gear by the number of teeth on the driving gear.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a typical gear ratio range?
A: Common ratios range from 1:1 to 100:1 or more, depending on the application. Industrial gearboxes often use ratios between 3:1 and 100:1.

Q2: How does gear ratio affect torque?
A: Torque increases proportionally with the gear ratio. A 2:1 ratio doubles the torque while halving the speed.

Q3: What's the difference between speed reduction and speed increase?
A: Speed reduction (output < input) uses ratios >1, while speed increase (output > input) uses ratios <1 (e.g., 0.5:1).

Q4: Can I use this for belt and pulley systems?
A: Yes, the same principle applies using pulley diameters instead of gear teeth (ratio = driven diameter/driving diameter).

Q5: How do multiple gear stages affect the ratio?
A: For multiple stages, multiply the individual ratios. For example, two 4:1 stages give a total ratio of 16:1.