Helical gears have teeth cut at an angle to the axis of rotation of the gear wheel. In gearboxes, they provide either similar or opposite rotation at a 90o angle, transferring rotational motion from one shaft to another. Because helical gearboxes are so versatile, they give design engineers the flexibility to choose the right tool for the job.
For example, our Branham line of helical gearboxes includes the following Insert-a-Shaft and MicroGear versions:
- INSERT-A-SHAFT®
- INSERT-A-SHAFT® Metric
- INSERT-A-SHAFT® CRL
- INSERT-A-SHAFT® CRL Washdown
- INSERT-A-SHAFT® Stainless Steel
- MICROGEAR®
Flexibility with Multiple Configurations
Insert-a-Shaft style helical gearboxes offer:
- Variety of bore sizes
- Variety of gear ratios
- Bi-directional rotation
- Black anodized aluminum, nickel-plated aluminum, or stainless steel housing material
- Grease, oil, and food-grade lubricants available
There are also sealing options, dictated by where the gearbox will be used. Is it meant for a standard environment, or a dirty, heavy washdown, or a high-sanitation application, such as food processing, pharmaceuticals, or medical and high-tech manufacturing?
Regardless of application, the gears are fully enclosed inside the Insert-a-Shaft box, so you can count on:
- Clean operation
- Consistent operation with no need to reset gears for quick-turn applications
- A single part for easy gearbox replacement
- Adjustable sizing within equipment as these gearboxes are designed to be moved along a keyed shaft
Creating Your Helical Gearbox
To determine the most appropriate helical gearbox, follow the same process as you would for any other type of gearing.
Use torque and gear ratios to determine the model and size gearbox you’ll need. The amount of torque required for your application is the primary determinant, but gear ratio can also play a key role. For example, a simple 1:1 or other low ratio gives you multiple options. However, if you need a very high ratio, such as 20:1 or 40:1, you’ll likely be better off with a worm-drive gearbox.
Also, determine if the shafts need to be on the same plane, or if they can be offset by anywhere between 1 and 2 ½ inches. For shafts on the same plane, you’ll want spiral bevel gears.
Ask yourself these key questions:
- What task will the gearbox perform? Think speed and frequency of the duty cycle.
- How should the gearbox be configured? Think mounting features and location(s).
- What is the desired input/output? Think torque and RPMs.
- What gear ratio is required? Will 1:1, 2:1, or 3:2 suffice, or do you need 10:1 or perhaps a significantly higher ratio?
- Are there any special requirements? Think about environmental conditions, such as temperature, wash-down, corrosive chemicals, or food-grade sanitation.
- How much backlash is acceptable for this application? This helps determine whether a helical, spiral bevel, or worm gearbox will work best.
Start by making a list of all of your application’s requirements. That might be only three factors:
- 1:1 gear ratio
- X amount of torque needed
- Stainless steel housing
In this case, the specialized need for stainless steel helps you choose suitable options quickly.
Our Handy Calculator Simplifies Your Search
Once you know which gearbox size and model(s) that may be suitable, you can narrow down by shaft diameter, rotational direction, and other common factors–such as base mount, washdown, or high cycle, continuous duty applications.
Our 3D Product Configurator is easy to use. It walks you through the selection process one element at a time, using drop-down menus to help you select details pertinent to your design. Once you have completed the form, you can download CAD and/or PDF datasheet documents.
Humans Are Here to Help
Our Branham design engineers are also available to help, if you need it. We’re always happy to answer questions and guide you toward the best possible product for your application.
