As some of the most straightforward, most reliable power transmission products on the market, spur gears can be found in a staggering array of equipment and machinery. Along with transmitting power, these gears control the speed and torque of construction equipment, manufacturing equipment, and other devices. Understanding how they work will help you choose the correct parts for your repair or fabrication project.

What Are Spur Gears?

Spur gears are round, with teeth radiating out from a central cylinder. As the gear turns, teeth mate with identical shapes on another gear, which transfers power and creates the opportunity to control speed. Because these parts are so simple, they’re usually the first choice in any mechanical or product engineering project.

What Types Are Available?

External Gears

Most spur gears have gears cut into the outside of a cylindrical base. To rotate a shaft in the opposite direction, these teeth will mesh with another external gear. However, they can also be used with internal gears to rotate a shaft in the same direction.

Internal Gears

Unlike external gears, internal gears have teeth cut on the inside of a cylinder. When an external gear meshes with the teeth, the rotation is transferred in the same direction. This design often employs a smaller external gear, which increases the rotation speed of the axis.

What Are Their Benefits?

Thanks to their simplicity, spur gears are fairly simple and can be manufactured with extreme precision. They’re also unlikely to slip unless the teeth are severely worn down, making them much more reliable than other designs.

Spur gears are also much more efficient than most other power transmission products. They are typically capable of transferring large amounts of force across several gears without losing energy. This makes them an essential component of power plants, which use them to transform one type of energy into another.

For over 20 years, Industrial Component Sales Inc. has provided high-quality power transmission products to businesses throughout the Midwest. Their selection features 10 different product lines, including spur gears from Vanzeeland ®, one of the industry’s leading manufacturers based in Wisconsin. Visit their website to learn more about VanZeelands inventory of power transmission products and most importantly, their machining capabilities of Gears, Sprockets and hubs of all kinds.  You can also call (612) 991-0263 to reach their headquarters in Hudson, WI. To speak with a sales professional in Bemidji, call (651) 270-0151, or dial (608) 630-1642 to contact their Madison, WI, office.