Helical or Spiral Bevel: Commonly Used Gearboxes in Packaging Machinery
At W.C. Branham, we're all about "Solutions in Motion." For more than three decades, we have engineered and manufactured components that enable all sorts of machines to move, many of them in industrial applications. Providing versatile components and choosing the right pieces for the intended motion is vital when creating the most appropriate solution. Take packaging machinery, for example.
Packaging facilities might handle anything from sealing roasted peanuts in bags to shrink-wrapping pallets. Processes involve multiple steps, and machines have to move in a multitude of ways as they transport and coordinate products and wrapping materials. Gearboxes are the “traffic cops” that keep things moving so processes function smoothly and seamlessly. Helical and spiral bevel gears are both used in packaging machinery but for different purposes.
W.C. Branham Offers Both Gearbox StylesWe pioneered right-angle hollow bore helical gearboxes. This design produces greater thrust and radial loads and operates at lower temperatures, so it is extra efficient and lasts longer. Helical gearboxes operate smoothly, quietly, and efficiently. They are a good choice for high horsepower applications such as packaging, cutting, and labeling.
Our spiral bevel gearboxes are also very efficient. They are compact in size, often an important design consideration. Despite their small size, they can handle high torque and high speeds made possible by their spiral teeth. We make hollow bore spiral bevel gearboxes and also 2-way, 3-way, and all-way models.
How Do You Decide Which is Best?
The specific performance requirements of your application determine which type of right angle gearboxes will best suit your design. Among other things, you will want to consider:
- Gear ratio: The number of teeth on each of the two meshing gears. For instance, if one gear has 20 teeth and the other has 10, the gear ratio would be 2:1. Typically, the wider the gear’s circumference, the more teeth it will have.
- Output torque required: The higher the output torque that will be required, the higher the gear ratio you will need. As the gear ratio rises, the speed of the output shaft slows. The reverse is also true – reducing the gear ratio increases output shaft speed.
- RPM: As just noted, the gear ratio and output speed are inversely proportional.
- Load distribution: Consider the load support you'll need for you application. You may even need bearing blocks to support overhung, axial, or external moment loads; otherwise, the load could shift to the internal gears, pushing them out of alignment.
We know how challenging it can be to design equipment for the packaging industry. There are so many variables. Here at W.C. Branham, we're all about innovation and are dedicated to putting our skills to work on behalf of our customers.
We’re here to answer questions about our products, but we can also help you figure out the best gearbox choices for your equipment design. Or create a custom design just for you. We also offer downloadable 3D STEP CAD files for any gearbox we make. Whatever it takes, we can help you achieve solutions in motion.