Table 14-3.--Maximum Backlash Allowance
It can be complicated to compute the NTCS with
the formula, so table 14-1 provides the data for a
simplified method to cube the secant of the helix angle.
To use it, multiply the NT by a factor (K) you obtain
from the table.
NTCS = NT K (factor)
To determine the constant K, locate on table 14-l
the helix angle you plan to cut. If the angle is other than
a whole number, such as 156, select the next highest
whole number of degrees, in this case 16. The factor
for 156is 1.127.
The following section will show you how to use the
numerical value of the NTCS to compute corrected
chordal addenda and chordal thicknesses.
Corrected Chordal Addendum
and Chordal Thickness
As in spur gearing, you must determine corrected
chordal addenda and chordal thicknesses since you will
be measuring circular distances with a gear tooth
vernier caliper that was designed to measure only
straight distances.
In helical gearing, use the NTCS rather than the
NOTE: If the calculated NTCS is other than a whole
actual NT to select the constant needed to determine the
number, go to the next highest whole number.
chordal addendum (CA) and the chordal thickness
(CT). Table 14-2 provides these constants. Remember,
following:
the numbers listed in the Number of Teeth column are
not actual numbers of teeth, but are NTCS values. After
CA constant = 1.0268; CT constant = 1.56958
you have determined the chordal addendum and chordal
thickness constants, you can calculate the corrected
Therefore, CADD =
= 0.102680 and
chordal addendum by using the following formula:
CCT =
= 0.156958
Backlash Allowance for Helical Gears
and the corrected chordal thicknesss by using this
formula:
The backlash allowance for helical gears is the same
as that for spur gears. Backlash is obtained by
decreasing the thickness of the tooth at the pitch line
and should be indicated by a chordal dimension. Table
As an example, calculate the corrected chordal
14-3 gives maximum allowable backlash in inches
addendum and the corrected chordal thickness for a
between the teeth of the mating gears.
helical gear with a DP of 10, a helix angle of 15, and
20 teeth.
To determine the proper amount of backlash,
NTCS=NT K
multiply the maximum allowable amount of backlash
found in table 14-3, part A, by 2 and add the result to
= 20 1.11 (constant from table 14-l)
the calculated whole depth. In this case the maximum
= 23
backlash allowance is a constant.
14-11