The figure shows a dialog window allowing you to review and modify the existing set of gear wheel parameters, or to edit a new set of parameters. Here are displayed: a gear name (Gear name), a number of wheels (Number of wheels), recently modified gear wheel (Recently modified gear wheel) as well as the number of a wheel, whose parameters you intend to edit (Edit gear wheel data). 


Clicking Cancel returns you to the Status of the Project dialog window without the altered parameters being accepted. Clicking Edit opens other dialog windows, containing parameters of a selected wheel. Choosing the Confirm command accepts wheel parameters and opens the Status of the project dialog window.

If the data file name was changed (a new gear) in the Select a folder, data file... window, then the ‘Data of zi wheel’ dialog window will load parameters from an adjustable template for each wheel. A wheel type and parameters of materials will also be assumed. In case of using a wheel parameters template, type of the wheel and values of parameters for all the wheels are initially identical.

The next figure includes the first of five parts of a selected wheel data.



The ‘Wheel type’ window displays three types of wheels that posses a given set of diz/diw diameters values. Basing on the input data, the software recognizes current type of a wheel and highlights it with descriptions in the magenta colour. To change the types of a wheel, choose the select wheel type according to the figure below:



Each such a change results in specific modifications to the wheel parameters set, which the software processes automatically. A user can adjust the modifications in subsequent tabs.


Here are three types (models) of gear wheels analysed in this paper.

  • The ‘rim-rib’ type with a hub, whose toothed rim part is clearly formed and connected with the hub using a rib, as shown in fig. 1.




  • The ‘roller’ type, in which neither a rib nor a hub can be distinguished from the rim part (fig.2).



  • The ‘rim-hub’ type, whose toothed rim is linked with the hub directly, fig.3.



Signs representing geometrical parameters in fig. 1, 2 and 3 are as follows:

d0   – wheel hole diameter,

diw – wheel hole hub diameter,

diz  – wheel rim hub diameter,

df   – wheel feet diameter,

da  – wheel addendum diameter,

b   – wheel rim width,

bp  – wheel hub width,

b – wheel hub rib thickness,

Sp – wheel hub thickness,

S – wheel rim thickness.


Typing wheel parameters in dialog windows, it should be taken into consideration that if:

1. rim hub diameter di_z>0 and wheel hole hub diameter di_w>0, then we select wheel type 1 (the ‘rim-rib’ type with a hub)

2. rim hub diameter di_z=0 and wheel hole hub diameter di_w=0, then we select wheel type 2 (the ‘roller’ type)

3. rim hub diameter di_z=0 and wheel hole hub diameter di_w>0, then we select wheel type 3 (the ‘rim-hub’ type)


The next tab, illustrated below, includes parameters of materials for a selected toothed gear. Parameters used in strength calculations, namely sigmaFlim – unlimited fatigue strength of a tooth root and sigmaHlim – unrestricted strength of a tooth side, were determined experimentally for a few materials. The toothed gears used in the experiments were made of five types of steel and their toothing was finished in two ways (by grinding and shaving).



Within the software, it is possible to enter parameters for a given material and conduct respective calculations. Modification of a material results in immediate modification of all parameters of materials used in the given toothed gear.



Moreover, selecting appropriate option in the dialog box allows setting similar parameters of materials applied in all gears of a gearbox automatically.

The window below contains the first set of parameters (there are 3 sets) for a chosen gear wheel in the GEAR_PH program. The window content differs slightly in the GEAR program. 



The minimal min and maximal max value of each parameter are boundary values. All values, including the boundary values, can be edited. If the value of the given parameters does not fall in the range from min to max, the warning note will be displayed, indicating the relevant parameter and the imposed constraint. This note will be repeated until the value of the parameter should fall in the range from min to max or until the key Cancel is selected, and the parameter value being entered will not be accepted.

The configuration button can be found in the ‘Parameters 1’ tab. It is located next to the module parameter. After pressing the button, a window appears on the screen:



A module can be expressed in [mm] or [1/cal] (DP - Diametral-Pitch). It can also be selected in three different ways: as any module of the particular range, as any of the series of standardized modules types, or selected from among the series of types. A modification to a module for the given toothed gear results in automatic modification of all associated gears. During edition of a given toothed gear data, it is also possible to select the ‘same module for all gears’ option and then, all gears of a gearbox will be associated with a module that is expressed with the same units and they will be selected according to the pre-defined selection schedule.



Clicking on the next bookmarks, the values of the next parameters or their changes can be viewed.



The last wheel parameters dialog window contains the remaining parameters.



Use the button Cancel to return to the dialog window 'Select the wheel number' and the changed wheel parameters will not be accepted. When the button Confirm is used, the ‘Data of zi wheel’ dialog window is closed and a wheel number selection window is opened.