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Lubrication

| 2025-02-26

79th STLE Annual Meeting & Exhibition

Join your peers and the tribology community for the 79th STLE Annual Meeting & Exhibition, May 18-22, 2025 at the Hyatt Regency in Atlanta, Georgia (USA). Each year STLE's conference showcases some 500 technical presentations, application-based case studies, best practice reports and discussion panels on technical and market trends. The exhibition and popular Commercial Marketing Forum spotlight the latest products and services of interest to lubrication professionals that come from around the world, representing a full range of the industry’s most prestigious corporate, government and academic institutions.

FEATURE ARTICLES | 2025-02-26

Reshaping Manufacturing

Lubricant Expo is North America’s leading exhibition and conference event dedicated to the lubricant industry. Connecting lubricant solution providers with end-user buyers and the entire chemical and equipment supply chain, the show attracts thousands of engineers and executives each year. As the sister show to Europe’s largest industry event, Lubricant Expo Europe, these two shows provide the largest dedicated exhibitions for lubrication solutions on a global scale, with a free to attend expo and conference that serves the interests of thousands of visitors representing more than 75 countries. Exhibitors cover the end-to-end chain of the industry, from finished lubricants and technologies for lubricant users, to the chemical ingredients and development devices for formulators and lab professionals.

EVENT | 2024-10-16

The Bearing Show North America/Lubricant Expo North America

The Bearing Show connects the evolving needs of bearings end-users with the latest technologies serving, OEM development, maintenance professionals and R&D engineers. Meet visitors from OEM’s, machine manufacturers, industrial plants, global distributors, and more. Matching the needs of end-users with the innovation and opportunities occurring throughout the supply-chain is essential. 

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2024-08-15

STLE Releases Sustainability Report

The Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers (STLE) is pleased to announce the release of its new free digital special report, Sustainability Opportunities for Tribology.

FEATURE ARTICLES | 2024-06-12

Nanocomposite Coatings

Thanks to advancements in material science and chemistry, particularly in nanoscience, a new solution has emerged: nanocomposite coatings, more broadly referred to as thin-film coatings. But how did we arrive at this point in coating development? As with many technologies, war highlighted the need for more advanced coating development eventually leading to nanocomposite coatings.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2024-03-25

Cortec CEO Boris Miksic Receives Special Recognition for 50 Years of Dedicated Work at NACE-International

Boris Miksic, a Croatian-American entrepreneur and owner of Cortec Corporation, has received special recognition for 50 years of dedicated work at NACE-International, the largest global organization focusing on developing standards for corrosion prevention. Cortec is a global corrosion inhibitor manufacturer and a leader in green corrosion protection technologies. 

EVENT | 2024-03-11

2024 STLE Annual Meeting and Exhibition Registration

STLE is celebrating 80 years of technical excellence and innovation during the event. The STLE Annual Meeting & Exhibition will feature over 500 technical presentations, a trade show with over 100 exhibitors, a Commercial Marketing Forum, 13 industry-specific education courses, discussion panels on technical and market trends, and more.

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INDUSTRY NEWS | 2023-05-24

Texas A&M University’s Hong Liang Takes Reins as STLE President

The Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers (STLE)—the technical society serving individuals, companies and organizations that comprise the tribology and lubrication engineering business sector—today announced that Hong Liang, Ph.D., Oscar S. Wyatt Jr. Professor in the J. Mike Walker ’66 Department of Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, will assume the role of 2023-2024 president for a one-year term beginning May 23, 2023.   

EVENT | 2023-04-11

Reliable Plant 2023

This three-day event offers attendees learning sessions and case studies on the latest industrial lubrication and oil analysis technologies. The comprehensive conference schedule covers every facet of the machinery lubrication industry and includes workshops on topics such as employee performance, lubrication fundamentals, condition-based maintenance and maintenance planning.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2023-02-17

Rego-Fix to Appear at SATELLITE and EASTEC 2023

Rego-Fix will feature high-precision toolholding especially suited for the demands of satellite, telescope, rocket and other sophisticated part production at SATELLITE 2023 and the company's reCool retrofittable coolant-through system and powRgrip tool holders will be showcased at EASTEC 2023.

EVENT | 2023-02-16

2023 STLE Tribology Frontiers Conference and Tribology and Lubrication for E-Mobility Conference

The 2023 STLE Tribology Frontiers Conference (TFC) will be held November 12-14. The event will allow attendees to engage with world-renowned industry, academic and government researchers to learn more about the technical, environmental and social issues impacting tribology research in the 21st Century. The deadline for TFC abstract submissions is April 15, 2023, but the website will remain open after this date for wait-listed submissions and posters.

EVENT | 2023-01-18

Nextlub 2023

Lubricants and tribological systems are undergoing rapid change. The challenges and uncertainties are enormous. Ecological challenges such as the de-carbonization of industry, mobility and society on the one hand, economic challenges such as the resilience of global supply chains on the other, are changing the way lubricants and tribological systems will be developed, validated, produced and applied in the future.

VIDEO | 2022-11-16

Remote Monitoring of Girth Gear Performance

Inadequate lubrication conditions lead to excessive displacement. Vibration and temperature can reveal cracks and misalignment. Profile deformation leads to worsening conditions, and wear speed diagnoses current gear protection while predicting critical wear. But a monitoring partnership that understands that integrated system will get you the best at all stages of your gear. It’ll prevent failures and upgrade your efficiency. Learn more about Kluber and DALOG's remote monitoring of girth gear performance.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2022-10-10

Kyzen to Exhibit Metalnox Alkaline Cleaners with Corrosion Inhibitors at FABTECH 2022

Kyzen, the global leader in innovative environmentally friendly cleaning chemistries, will exhibit at FABTECH 2022, scheduled to take place November 8–10 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. The Kyzen Clean team will highlight Metalnox M6314CP and Metalnox M6324CP in Booth #B5017.

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EVENT | 2022-09-22

IPPE 2025

The International Production & Processing Expo is the world’s largest annual poultry, meat and feed industry event of its kind. A wide range of international decision-makers attend this annual event to network and become informed on the latest technological developments and issues facing the industry. 

PRODUCT NEWS | 2022-08-31

Jorgensen Launches Three New Systems to Optimize the Machining Process

Jorgensen Conveyor and Filtration Solutions announces the introduction of three new systems that will reduce labor and improve performance throughout the entire machining process.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2022-08-23

Oelheld Offers Technical Expertise for Machining Applications at IMTS 2022

Oelheld US will be located in Booth #237475 in the North Hall. Oelheld technical experts will be on hand to discuss grinding, erosion, precision machining, and filtration, among other topics.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2022-07-19

Blaser Swisslube Offers Metalworking Fluids at IMTS 2022

Blaser Swisslube returns to IMTS 2022 with a line-up of new metalworking fluids and a team of experts with diverse industry and applications experience. Visit Blaser at IMTS to learn how metalworking fluids, often thought of as a commodity, can be leveraged as a strategic tool in the manufacturing process. 

FEATURE ARTICLES | 2022-05-19

The Numbers Game

Tool-X is a nanofluid that changes the characteristics of existing metalworking fluids by ‘manipulating’ speeds, feeds and metal removal rates using nanotechnology. The science behind Tool-X can potentially change metal cutting dynamics, improve surface finishes and extend tool life. The backstory of this technology is just as fascinating as its production results.

TECH TALK | 2022-05-19

Two New AGMA Publications

AGMA is happy to announce the publication of two new documents: AGMA 925-B22, Effect of Tribology and Lubrication on Gear Surface Distress, written by a subcommittee of the AGMA Helical Gear Rating Committee, and, AGMA 943-A22, Tolerances for Spur and Helical Racks, written by the AGMA Gear Accuracy Committee.

TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2022-05-19

Defining the Tooth Flank Temperature in High-Speed Gears

The objective of this paper is to improve the methodology for determining the tooth flank temperature. Two methods are proposed for assessing scuffing risk when applying AGMA 925 for high-speed gears. Both methods provide similar results.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2022-04-15

Oelheld Offers Grinding Oil Performance Benefits

Many see the fluids as an unnecessary evil to the grinding process, failing to realize that selecting the right grinding fluid can lead to significant improvements in cycle time, surface quality, finishes, secondary operations, such as tool coatings. Oelheld has put together a short article on grinding oil considerations.

EVENT | 2022-04-13

AGMA Gearbox Systems Design

This course focuses the supporting elements of a gearbox that allow gears and bearings to do their jobs most efficiently. Learn about seals, lubrication, lubricants, housings, breathers, and other details that go into designing gearbox systems.

TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2021-11-01

Dry Lubricated Rolling-Sliding Contact –Operation Behavior and Calculation of Local Frictional Energy

For certain operating conditions and environments, liquid lubrication of gear drives is not possible, or can only be implemented with great restrictions or at high cost.
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2021-11-01

Lowering the Temperature of Gear Oils with Performance Polymer Technology

Higher operating temperatures can be detrimental for the quality of oil which can, in turn, cause gearbox durability issues.
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2021-08-01

The Digital Maturity Index

A categorization of digital activities and a perspective from Klingelnberg
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2021-03-12

Shell Announces Global Portfolio of Carbon Neutral Lubricants

Shell has announced it will offer customers carbon neutral lubricants across a range of products for passenger cars, heavy duty diesel en...
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2020-10-14

Closing the Gap

We left the gear tribe arguing over how to solve the problems that were cropping up with the new-fangled double helical or herringbone designs. Fas...
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2020-08-10

Michigan Metrology Offers Online Courses in Surface Roughness, Texture and Tribology

Michigan Metrology, experts in solving problems related to surface texture, wear, finish and friction, are now offering courses in surfac...
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2019-10-10

That Blank Sheet of Paper

Does nature hate a vacuum more than a designer hates a blank sheet of paper? We will never know for sure because nature is too busy to write a blog...
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2019-10-08

Total Specialties USA Promotes Bagouet to Senior Vice President of Lubricants

Franck Bagouet, formerly the president of Total Canada, has been promoted to senior vice president – lubricants, Total Specialties ...
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2019-07-24

Sunnen and ANS Collaborate on Friction and Wear Reduction Technology

Sunnen Products Company and Sweden’s Applied Nano Surfaces (ANS) have entered into a joint market development agreement to advance ...
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2019-06-12

Oelheld Introduces Forging Lubricants

Oelheld recently announced a line of forging lubricants at Forge Fair 2019. The company is also a proud member of the Forging Industry As...
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2019-06-04

And may you have the joy of passing something on…

One of the reoccurring themes in our “origin stories” project is the willingness of people to school us in the sometimes confusing world of gears. ...
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2019-06-01

Oil-Off Characterization Method Using In-Situ Friction Measurement for Gears Operating Under Loss-of-Lubrication Conditions

The oil-off (also known as loss-of-lubrication or oil-out) performance evaluation of gears is of significant interest to the Department of Defense and various rotorcraft manufacturers, so that the aircraft can safely land in an accidental loss-of-lubricant situation. However, unlike typical gear failure modes such as pitting or bending fatigue where early detection is possible, gear failure in an oil-off situation is very rapid and likely catastrophic. Failures rapidly result in the loss of torque transmission and the inability to control the aircraft.
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2019-05-09

My Story – Bob Handschuh

Most of us only think of NASA with regard to the “S” [Space] in its acronym. The first “A” [Aerospace] is just as important to its mission of s...
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2019-04-04

Gear Technology Hall of Fame?

Cleveland has always seemed a rather odd location for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Hollywood, on the other hand, is the logical place for that W...
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2019-04-02

Don't Let Them Fade Away!

It occurred to me that some readers may be unfamiliar with Darle W. Dudley, author of many respected gear reference books. A quick on-line “name ch...
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2019-03-21

My Story: Ernie Reiter

In the last semester of my senior year of mechanical engineering, I recall having a discussion with my study group friends about the purpose of our...
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2019-01-31

The Importance of Dirty Hands

My dear friend Octave’s account of his co-op experience (see Tuesday’s 1-29 post) reinforces my belief that no one should trust an engineer or desi...
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2019-01-18

Lessons Learned the Hard Way

Chris’ account of p...
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2018-12-11

Handling Changes

It is the solemn du...
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2018-12-04

Dealing with Obsolescence

Emerging technology gets lots of coverage in all forms of media; obsolete technology is still the backbone of our economy. Self-driving vehicles ex...
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2018-10-25

Changing Bearings

Just as “conventional thinking” h...
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2018-09-05

Hainbuch Taps Hänel for Mandrel Prototype Test

Hard work and first-class teamwork between the gear factory Hänel and Hainbuch has paid off. The new mandrel Mando G211 for gear manufacturers, sui...
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2018-09-01

Everything-Friendly Lubricants

Lubricant experts are doing more than ever to make their products less toxic and harmful to everything from the environment to the people using them — which comes with plenty of extra benefits for productivity, too!
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2018-08-30

Gearbox Design: Checks and Double Checks

We have been devoting this year’s blogs to fundamentals. I frequently remind my clients that the gear geometry is the easy part of gearbox design. ...
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2018-08-15

IMTS 2018: A Field Guide

Chicago Preps for the Next Manufacturing Technology Extravaganza Matthew Jaster, Senior Editor
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2018-07-05

Planetary Drives: The Same but Different

Those ancient planetary drives I first got involved with in 1979 (
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2018-06-28

Suns and Planets

The first planetary drive I helped take apart had three stages of through hardened spur gears encased in a simple cast iron tube with plates on both ends. Both input and output shafts rotated on taper roller bearings, but everything else had simple bronze bushings.
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2018-06-07

Tectorius Expands Lubricant and Coatings Portfolio

Maelstrom Chemical/Tectorius has expanded its portfolio of synthetic lubricants and coatings. The Tec-Flon family of products now contain...
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2018-05-08

Making Things Work

There is an old saying that if the only tool you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail. Imagine that you are tasked by your employer to de...
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2018-05-01

More Solutions, Greater Challenges

As coating technology improves to handle harsher conditions, cutting tool manufacturers are faced with new challenges during the resharpening process.
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2018-03-22

Worm Basics - Part 2

Continuing our discussion of the “least you need to know” about worm gearing: 5. Efficiency is highly variable for worms. If it is critical to y...
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2018-03-01

Out of Your Depth?

How did that over pin calculation work out? My congratulations if you managed to work your way through it without tearing your hair out. Guess what...
ASK THE EXPERT | 2017-11-01

Friction Coefficient of Differently Treated Steel Surfaces

A reader asks about ion-nitride finished shafts and the proper friction coefficient to be used for calculations.
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2017-09-01

ExxonMobil on Benefits of Synthetic Gear Oils

Base oils play an important role in determining the performance of an industrial gear oil. They influence characteristics such as low temperature performance, biodegradability, energy efficiency and high temperature thermal and oxidative stability.
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2017-08-08

WZL Gear Conference Highlights Latest Technology

Liebherr Gear Technology Inc. recently hosted the 7th WZL Gear Conference in the USA 2017 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. This two-day program o...
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2017-08-01

2017 Gear Expo: Gears, Machinery and a Whole Lot More

There is so much more to Gear Expo than gears or the machinery that makes them. That's because it takes much, much more to make a finished gear than even the most sophisticated machine. And it is exhibitors who are part of the "much, much, more" that are addressed in this article.
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2017-07-03

Happy Independence Day!

Other than the fireworks, it is a quiet day for most of us here in the United States. We need this annual holiday to remind us that, despite the ve...
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2017-03-21

Worm Gears: Higher Energy Efficiency and Less Strain on Resources

Introduction The concepts of sustainability and energy efficiency are gaining importance in power transmission engineering. Mor...
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2017-03-07

Change for the Sake of Change?

One of the great things about social media is the opportunity to keep up with what is going on with family and friends. Sometimes you can offer an ...
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2017-03-01

Shifting Fortunes

Amidst the energy industry's uncertain future, gearbox manufacturers are focusing on supplying the aftermarket.
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2017-01-01

Oil-Out Endurance Under the Lens

Oil-out conditions, or conditions in which an aircraft is operating without any oil in its gearbox or transmission, are devastating for an aircraft's hardware. Even the sturdiest gears usually can't last 30 minutes under such conditions before they catastrophically fail, and the whole system usually follows shortly after. That doesn't leave pilots with a whole lot of time to find a suitable location to land in the case of an oil-out emergency.
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2016-09-27

Nye Lubricants Develops Rheolube 460 Series

Nye Lubricants is developing the next generation of synthetic hydrocarbon greases thickened with lithium soap. These new greases are the ...
PRODUCT NEWS | 2016-09-01

Product News

News on the latest products in the industry.
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2016-08-01

IMTS 2016 Booth Previews

Comprehensive descriptions of what you will find in the booths of many leading gear industry suppliers at IMTS 2016.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2016-08-01

Transient EHL Analysis of Helical Gears

This paper addresses the lubrication of helical gears - especially those factors influencing lubricant film thickness and pressure. Contact between gear teeth is protected by the elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) mechanism that occurs between nonconforming contact when pressure is high enough to cause large increases in lubricant viscosity due to the pressure-viscosity effect, and changes of component shape due to elastic deflection. Acting together, these effects lead to oil films that are stiff enough to separate the contacting surfaces and thus prevent significant metal-to-metal contact occurring in a well-designed gear pair.
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2016-07-26

Making Manufacturing Cool Again

Can you remember the first time you saw a gear? I remember seeing gears on a cousin’s erector set crane when I was six or seven. A friend got a slo...
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2016-06-23

Revisiting the Bad Old Days

  Unless you are involved with rebuilding old equipment, it may be entirely possible to never see a tooth flank with “progressive pitting.”...
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2016-06-13

Cortec CorrLube CpCl Lithium EP Grease Provides Corrosion Resistance for Electrical Connections

When it comes time to lubricate bearings, fans, chassis or other metal areas where grease is applied, Cortec's CorrLube VpCI Lithium ...
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2016-03-24

Malicious Obedience

After posting about the difficulty in keeping my “inner engineer” under control outside the workplace, several readers admitted to the same troub...
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2016-03-01

Defying the Oil Ripple

The oil industry is (pardon the pun) tanking. That may conjure up horrific images of other industries following suit in a domino effect of collective collapse into the overabundant oil slick the industry is currently drowning in, but not everyone is getting knocked down alongside the oil sector.
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2016-02-25

New Ideas in Gears

One of the perks of being a “public” gear person is the opportunity to interact with interesting people in and around our industry. Gear Techno...
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2016-02-11

The World before Wikipedia and Google

I have a lot of books. Like old friends, they sit on shelves and in boxes waiting for me to need them. It has been pointed out to me that books are...
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2016-01-01

Influences on Failure Modes and Load-Carrying Capacity of Grease-Lubricated Gears

In order to properly select a grease for a particular application, a sound knowledge of the influence of different grease components and operating conditions on the lubrication supply mechanism and on different failure modes is of great benefit.
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2015-08-04

Dillon Full Grip Jaws Reduce Distortion and Provide More Friction

Dillon Manufacturing recently introduced full grip jaws made of 1018 CR steel from 6 inches to 15 inches in diameter, with heights of 2, ...
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2015-07-16

Dillon 1018 CR Steel Full Grip Jaws Reduce Distortion and Provides More Friction

Dillon Manufacturing recently introduced full grip jaws made of 1018 CR steel from 6" to 15" in diameter, with heights of 2&quo...
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2015-07-09

Dayton DayLube Grease Designed to Maintain Viscosity After 100,000 Strokes

Dayton Lamina recently introduced their DayLube high-performance nano-ceramic grease. The grease is designed to maintain its original vis...
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2015-06-01

The Basics of Gear Theory

Beginning with our June Issue, Gear Technology is pleased to present a series of full-length chapters excerpted from Dr. Hermann J. Stadtfeld’s latest scholarly — yet practical — contribution to the gear industry — Gleason Bevel Gear Technology. Released in March, 2014 the book boasts 365 figures intended to add graphic support of a better understanding and easier recollection of the covered material.
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2015-04-10

Klüber Lubrication Introduces Synthetic Grease for Extreme Climatic Conditions

KlÏ‹ber Lubrication recently introduced Klübersynth EM 94-102, a fully synthetic lubricating grease incorporating a calcium complex ...
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2015-03-03

Oelheld Boasts DiaMill HEF 100 is 'Ideal Alternative to Water Soluble Cooling Lubricants'

DiaMill HEF 1100 is a high performance product based on hydrocrack oils. It has nearly no odor, has high shearing stability, is resistant...
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2015-01-09

It’s All About Context

[starbox] I was one of those kids that loved reading the dictionary to learn new words, and that interest has continued into my golden years. Th...
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2015-01-01

On the Cutting Edge

Sentences that start off with some variance of “I don’t want to brag, but…” are generally a good indicator that it’s precisely what the speaker intends to do and typically end with bold proclamations that are immediately and eminently quotable — the kind of quotes perfect for beginning a feature story with an eye-catching artistic flourish.
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2014-09-02

Shell Lubricants Joins MFG Day as Sponsor

Shell Lubricants has joined Manufacturing Day 2014 as the event’s exclusive Platinum Sponsor, supplying the national initiative wit...
ASK THE EXPERT | 2014-08-01

Additives: Anti-Wear vs Anti-Scuff

A reader asks: While I have read a reasonable amount of the literature on the pros and cons of anti-wear and anti-scuff additives, I find that the more I read, the more confused I become. I could use some clarity in my life.
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2014-05-13

A Sure Sign of Spring

[starbox] Over the years, some of the luster has come off the Indianapolis 500, but it remains a major cultural influence. I caught the racing b...
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2014-02-26

Lubrication Engineers Introduce Monocal GP Grease

Lubrication Engineers, Inc. recently introduced Monocal GP Grease (1499), a versatile general purpose lubricant for use in severe conditi...
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2014-01-17

Gear Training Then and Now

[starbox] Blogging about gear training brings to mind the widely attended Illinois Tool Works Gear School that Bob Moderow operated on behalf of h...
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2013-11-01

Understanding Oil Analysis: How it Can Improve Reliability of Wind Turbine Gearboxes

Historically, wind turbine gearbox failures have plagued the industry. Yet an effective oil analysis program will increase the reliability and availability of your machinery, while minimizing maintenance costs associated with oil change-outs, labor, repairs and downtime. Practical action steps are presented here to improve reliability.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2013-10-01

Purchasing Gear Lubricants - Be Careful When Playing the Numbers Game

When it comes to purchasing gear lubricants, many people on both the sales and purchasing side decide to play the numbers game. The person with the most numbers, or the biggest numbers, or the lowest numbers, must have the best product - right? Wrong; gear oil selection is not a game, and numbers alone cannot determine the right product for an application.
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2013-09-09

Oerlikon Shares Knowledge at World Tribology Congress

High-performance transmission specialist Oerlikon Graziano shares its extensive knowledge and innovative research techniques at the World...
ASK THE EXPERT | 2013-06-01

Worn Gear Contact Analysis

How does one perform a contact analysis for worn gears? Our expert responds.
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2013-05-01

Heavy-Duty Demands - Modern Coating Technology Examined

The hob is a perfect example of how a little manufacturing ingenuity can make a reliable, highly productive cutting tool. It's an engineering specimen that creates higher cutting speeds, better wear resistance and increases rigidity. The cutting tool alone, however, can't take all the credit for its resourcefulness. Advanced coating technology from companies like Sulzer, Oerlikon Balzers, Ionbond, Seco Tools and Cemecon helps improve cutting tools by reducing overall costs, increasing tool life and maintaining the highest levels of productivity. The following is a quick recap of new technologies and the latest information in the coating market.
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2013-03-01

My Gear Is Bigger than Your Gear

Industry battles it out for World's Largest Gear title.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2012-11-01

Morphology of Micropitting

Understanding the morphology of micropitting is critical in determining the root cause of failure. Examples of micropitting in gears and rolling-element bearings are presented to illustrate morphological variations that can occur in practice.
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2012-10-29

Acculube Distributes New Bio-Based Lubricants

Acculube, distributor for Castrol, Exxon Mobil, and other leading global brands of industrial fluids, has been appointed one of just a fe...
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2012-01-01

New Energy - Same Challenges

Uncertainty casts a shadow over future business opportunities for manufacturers serving the new energy markets.
VOICES | 2011-11-01

Vacuum Oil Quenching

The October 2011 issue of Gear Technology featured the article “Low-Distortion Heat Treatment of Transmission Components,” which covered the combination of low-pressure carburizing and high pressure gas quenching in an automotive environment. Here, heat treating expert Dan Herring explains why oil quenching is an appropriate choice for many applications.
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2011-06-01

Wind Turbines: Clean Energy, but Energy Efficient

We talked energy efficiency with some major players in the lubricants industry— but with a focus on their products’ impact regarding energy efficiency of gears and gearboxes in wind turbines.
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2011-05-01

Worm Gears - Higher Energy Efficiency and Less Strain on Resources

A very direct and effective way of increasing power transmission efficiency is a changeover from mineral-oil-based lubricants to synthetic lubricants.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2010-11-01

Gear Fault Detection Effectiveness as Applied to Tooth Surface Pitting Fatigue Damage

A study was performed to evaluate fault detection effectiveness as applied to gear-tooth pitting-fatigue damage. Vibration and oil-debris monitoring (ODM) data were gathered from 24 sets of spur pinion and face gears run during a previous endurance evaluation study.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2010-08-01

Optimizing Gear Geometry for Minimum Transmission Error, Mesh Friction Losses and Scuffing Risk Through Computer- Aided Engineering

Minimizing gear losses caused by churning, windage and mesh friction is important if plant operating costs and environmental impact are to be minimized. This paper concentrates on mesh friction losses and associated scuffing risk. It describes the preliminary results from using a validated, 3-D Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and Tooth Contact Analysis (TCA) program to optimize cylindrical gears for low friction losses without compromising transmission error (TE), noise and power density. Some case studies and generic procedures for minimizing losses are presented. Future development and further validation work is discussed.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2009-03-01

Hob Tool Life Technology Update

The method of cutting teeth on a cylindrical gear by the hobbing process has been in existence since the late 1800s. Advances have been made over the years in both the machines and the cutting tools used in the process. This paper will examine hob tool life and the many variables that affect it. The paper will cover the state-of-the-art cutting tool materials and coatings, hob tool design characteristics, process speeds and feeds, hob shifting strategies, wear characteristics, etc. The paper will also discuss the use of a common denominator method for evaluating hob tool life in terms of meters (or inches) per hob tooth as an alternative to tool life expressed in parts per sharpening.
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2009-01-01

Big Gears - High Standards, High Profits

Natural resources—minerals, coal, oil, agricultural products, etc.—are the blessings that Mother Earth confers upon the nations of the world. But it takes unnaturally large gears to extract them.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2007-11-01

Design of Oil-Lubricated Machine Components for Life and Reliability

This article summarizes the use of laboratory fatigue data for bearings and gears coupled with probabilistic life prediction and EHD theories to predict the life and reliability of a commercial turboprop gearbox.
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2007-08-14

Morgan Advanced Ceramics Introduces New Coatings from the Racing Industry

The Diamonex Products division of Morgan Advanced Ceramics (MAC) introduced its Diamonex® Diamond-like Coatings (DLC) for the pe...
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2007-02-08

Two Publications from Society of Lubrication and Tribology Available

The completely revised and updated Handbook of Lubrication and Tribology, Volume I: Application and Maintenance, Second Edition, is now a...
PRODUCT NEWS | 2006-09-01

Product News

The complete Product News section from September/October 2006.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2006-07-01

The Lubrication of DLC Coated Gears with Environmentally Adapted Ester-Based Oil

A main limiting factor in extending the use of hard coatings to machine component application is the lack of knowledge about how these inert coatings perform under lubricated conditions using today's lubricants.
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2006-03-20

Balzers Acquires Gold Star Coatings

Balzers Inc. announced a cooperaion agreement to take over the PVD coating operations of Gold Star Coatings, a subsidiary of the industri...
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2005-09-01

Determining Power Losses in the Helical Gear Mesh

This article reviews mathematical models for individual components associated with power losses, such as windage, churning, sliding and rolling friction losses.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2005-05-01

The Influence of Additive Chemistry on Micropitting

This article discusses the potential effects observed for different antiwear and EP chemistry on the micropitting of cylindrical gears.
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2005-04-13

New North American Subsidiary for Atlanta GmbH

Atlanta GmbH in Bietingheim-Bissingen, Germany, announced the formation of its new North American subsidiary, Atlanta Drive Systems Inc.,...
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2005-03-01

Environmentally Friendly Cutting Fluids

Environmentally friendly cutting fluids aren't just good for the environment. They can also be good for performance.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2004-07-01

Influence of Coatings and Surface Improvements on the Lifetime of Gears

Surface coatings or finishing processes are the future technologies for improving the load carrying capacity of case hardened gears. With the help of basic tests, the influence of different coatings and finishing processes on efficiency and resistance to wear, scuffing, micropitting, and macropitting is examined.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2004-05-01

A Model of the Pumping Action Between the Teeth of High-Speed Spur and Helical Gears

For a high-speed gearbox, an important part of power losses is due to the mesh. A global estimation is not possible and an analytical approach is necessary with evaluations of three different origins of power losses: friction in mesh contact, gear windage and pumping effect between teeth.
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2004-01-04

New Managers at M&M Precision

Mark Cowan and John Zahora joined M&M Precision Systems Corp. of Willoughby, OH, in different management positions. According to the ...
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2004-01-01

Service Behavior of PVD-Coated Gearing Lubricated with Biodegradable Synthetic Ester Oils

The following article is concerned with the analysis of the wear-reducing effect of PVD-coatings in gearings. Standardized test methods are used, which under near-real conditions enable statements to be made about the different forms of damage and wear (micropitting, macropitting, scuffing).
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2003-07-01

Vegetable-Based Oil as a Gear Lubricant

Universal tractor transmission oil (UTTO) is multifunctional tractor oil formulated for use in transmissions, final drives, differentials, wet brakes, and hydraulic systems of farm tractors employing a common oil reservoir. In the present work, the gear protection properties of two formulated vegetable-based UTTO oils, one synthetic ester-based UTTO oil, one synthetic ester gear oil, and one mineral based UTTO oil are investigated.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2001-11-01

Systematic Investigations on the Influence of Viscosity Index Improvers on EHL Film Thickness

Mineral-oil-base lubricants show a significant decrease of kinematic viscosity with rising temperature, as exemplified in Figure 1 by lubricants for vehicle gears. An important attribute of lubricants is their viscosity index (VI), according to DIN/ISO 2909 (Ref. 4). Viscosity index is a calculated coefficient, which characterizes the change of viscosity of lubricants as a function of temperature. A high viscosity index represents a low variation of viscosity due to temperature and vice versa. A low viscosity-temperature-dependence is required for lubricants that are operated at significantly varying temperature conditions, such as vehicle engine and gear lubricants in summer and winter time. This way, the oils remain flowing and pumpable at low temperatures on the one hand; and on the other hand, sufficiently thick lubricant films can be formed at higher temperatures for a safe separation of the surfaces.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2000-09-01

Gear Oil Micropitting Evaluation

During the last decade, industrial gear manufacturers, particularly in Europe, began to require documentation of micropitting performance before approving a gear oil for use in their equipment. The development of micropitting resistant lubricants has been limited both by a lack of understanding of the mechanism by which certain lubricant chemistry promotes micropitting and by a lack of readily available testing for evaluation of the micropitting resistance of lubricants. This paper reports results of two types of testing: (1) the use of a roller disk machine to conduct small scale laboratory studies of the effects of individual additives and combinations of additives on micropitting and (2) a helical gear test used to study micropitting performance of formulated gear oils.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 1999-11-01

Hard Gear Finishing with a Geometrically Defined Cutting Edge

The market demand for gear manufacturers to transmit higher torques via smaller-sized gear units inevitably leads to the use of case-hardened gears with high manufacturing and surface quality. In order to generate high part quality, there is an increasing trend towards the elimination of the process-induced distortion that occurs during heat treatment by means of subsequent hard finishing.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 1998-03-01

Programmable Separation of Runout From Profile and Lead Inspection Data for Gear Teeth With Arbitrary Modifications

A programmable algorithm is developed to separate out the effect of eccentricity (radial runout) from elemental gear inspection date, namely, profile and lead data. This algorithm can be coded in gear inspection software to detect the existence, the magnitude and the orientation of the eccentricity without making a separate runout check. A real example shows this algorithm produces good results.
FEATURE ARTICLES | 1997-09-01

Who's Who and What's What At Gear Expo '97

Below are listed the Gear Technology advertisers exhibiting at Gear Expo 97.
FEATURE ARTICLES | 1997-01-01

Hard Coatings on Contaminated Surfaces - A Case Study

Physical Vapor Deposited (PVD) coatings such as TiN (Titanium nitride) have been a boon for cutting tool manufacturers. They reduce wear and, therefore, extend tool life, which in turn reduces production costs. But PVD coatings are expensive, and when they fail, they cost both time and money, and they causes of the failure are not always readily apparent.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 1997-01-01

Improved Ion Bond Recoating for the Gear Manufacturing Industry

This article summarizes the development of an improved titanium nitride (TiN) recoating process, which has, when compared to conventional recoat methods, demonstrated tool life increases of up to three times in performance testing of hobs and shaper cutters. This new coating process, called Super TiN, surpasses the performance of standard TiN recoating for machining gear components. Super TiN incorporates stripping, surface preparation, smooth coating techniques and polishing before and after recoating. The combination of these improvements to the recoating process is the key to its performance.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 1997-01-01

Composite Electroless Nickel Coatings for the Gear Industry

Electroless Nickel (EN) plating, a process dating back to the 1940s, is one of the predominant metal finishing methods today. It is especially suitable for the gear industry, whose end uses span innumerable other industries, providing an endless assortment of requirements, environments, materials and specifications. EN plating has a broad array of functional features, which include:
FEATURE ARTICLES | 1997-01-01

Coated Gears Provide Slick Solution for Human-Powered Boat

Design Problem: Develop a gear drive for a pedal-powered water craft that will be easy to manufacture, use and maintain; that will be lightweight enough for the boat to be portable; and that will eliminate the environmental risk of lubricants leaking into the water.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 1996-09-01

Gear Wear Caused By Contaminated Oils

The diagnosis and prevention of gear tooth and bearing wear requires the discovery and understanding of the particular mechanism of wear, which in turn indicates the best method of prevention. Because a gearbox is a tribologically dependent mechanism, some understanding of gear and bearing tribology is essential for this process. Tribology is the general term for the study and practice of lubrication, friction and wear. If tribology is neglected or considered insignificant, poor reliability and short life will result.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 1996-09-01

Alternative Lubrication Methods for Large Open Gear Drives

The type of lubricant and the method of applying it to the tooth flanks of large open gears is very important from the point of view of lubrication technology and maintenance. When selecting the type of lubricant and the application method, it is important to check whether it is possible to feed the required lubricant quantity to the load-carrying tooth flanks, This is necessary to avoid deficient lubrication, damage to the gear and operational malfunctions. It is important to determine the type of lubricant, which may be fluid or grease-like. The consistency of the lubricant will have a direct impact on the ability of the lubrication system to feed adequately the lubricant to the gear. The interactions between the common types of lubricant and the lubrication application methods for open gear drives are shown in Fig. 1.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 1996-03-01

Wear Protection for Gears

Several trends in mechanical engineering are leading to greater surface stress on components and thus to unacceptable wear. These trends include greater stresses due to increased power densities; the need to maintain high precision of components throughout their service life; and the environmental imperative to reduce use of lubricants and additives.
PRODUCT NEWS | 1995-09-01

Product News

Welcome to our Product News page. Here we feature new products of interest to the gear and gear products markets.
FEATURE ARTICLES | 1995-05-01

Gear Oil Classification and Selection

Today gear drive operations have several options when selecting the proper lubricant for their gearboxes. As in the past, the primary lubricant used for gearbox lubrication is mineral oil. But with the advances in technology, synthetic hydrocarbons (PAOs) and polyglycols show very specific advantages in certain applications. With gear drives becoming more and more precise, it is now also to the benefit of the gear operator to verify that he or she has the proper additive package and viscosity in the lubricant selected. Fig. 1 shoes that a gear oil is a combination of a base oil and specific additives. The base oils can be either mineral oil, a synthetic or even in some cases a combination of the two.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 1995-05-01

EHL Film Thickness, Additives and Gear Surface Fatigue

Aircraft transmissions for helicopters, turboprops and geared turbofan aircraft require high reliability and provide several thousand hours of operation between overhauls. In addition, They should be lightweight and have very high efficiency to minimize operating costs for the aircraft.
FEATURE ARTICLES | 1995-05-01

Ten Myths About Gear Lubrication

Myth No. 1: Oil Is Oil. Using the wrong oil is a common cause of gear failure. Gears require lubricants blended specifically for the application. For example, slow-speed spur gears, high-speed helical gears, hypoid gears and worm gears all require different lubricants. Application parameters, such as operating speeds, transmitted loads, temperature extremes and contamination risks, must be considered when choosing an oil. Using the right oil can improve efficiency and extend gear life.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 1994-11-01

New Innovations in Hobbing - Part II

The first part of this article, which ran in the September/October 1994 issue, explained the fundamentals of gear hobbing and some of the latest techniques, including methods of hob performance analysis and new tool configurations, being used to solve specific application problems. In this issue, the author continues his exploration of hobbing by describing the effects of progress on requirements in accuracy, as well as the latest in materials, coating and dry hobbing.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 1994-09-01

New Innovations in Hobbing - Part I

Prior to the introduction of titanium nitride to the cutting tool industry in the early 1980s, there was very little progress in the general application of hobbing in the gear cutting industry. The productivity gains realized with this new type of coating initiated a very active time of advancement in the gear manufacturing process.
INDUSTRY NEWS | 1994-05-01

Choosing An ISO 9000 Consultant: Why, When & How

On of the key questions confronting any company considering ISO 9000 certification is, how much is this going to cost? The up-front fees are only the beginning. Dissect the ISO 9000 certification procedure with an eye for hidden costs, and two segments of the process will leap out - the cost of consultants and the cost of making in-house improvements for the sake of passing certification. Most of these costs can be controlled by careful selection f the right consultant in the first place.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 1993-09-01

Lubricants and Lubrication of Plastic Gears

Surface measurement of any metal gear tooth contact surface will indicate some degree of peaks and valleys. When gears are placed in mesh, irregular contact surfaces are brought together in the typical combination of rolling and sliding motion. The surface peaks, or asperities, of one tooth randomly contact the asperities of the mating tooth. Under the right conditions, the asperities form momentary welds that are broken off as the gear tooth action continues. Increased friction and higher temperatures, plus wear debris introduced into the system are the result of this action.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 1993-01-01

High Technology Hobs

Today's high technology hobs are visible different from their predecessors. Gear hobs have taken on a different appearance and function with present day technology and tool and material development. This article shows the newer products being offered today and the reasons for investigating their potential for use in today's modern gear hobbers, where cost reduction and higher productivity are wanted.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 1993-01-01

Environmentally Safe Fluids for Industrial Cutting, Lubrication, & Cleaning

Not long ago, many manufacturing managers thought sensitivity to environmental protection standards meant additional expenses, decreased productivity, and a plethora of headaches and hassles.
INDUSTRY NEWS | 1992-07-01

Cutting Low-Pitch-Angle Bevel Gears, Worm Gears and The Oil Entry Gap

Question: Do machines exist that are capable of cutting bevel gear teeth on a gear of the following specifications: 14 teeth, 1" circular pitch, 14.5 degrees pressure angle, 4 degrees pitch cone angle, 27.5" cone distance, and an 2.5" face width?
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 1991-07-01

The Lubrication of Gears - Part III

This is the final part of a three-part series on the basics of gear lubrication. It covers selection of lubricant types and viscosities, the application of lubricants, and a case history
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 1991-05-01

The Lubrication of Gears - Part II

What follows is Part 2 of a three-part article covering the principles of gear lubrication. Part 2 gives an equation for calculating the lubricant film thickness, which determines whether the gears operate in the boundary, elastohydrodynamic, or full-film lubrication regime. An equation for Blok's flash temperature, which is used for predicting the risk of scuffing, is also given.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 1991-03-01

The Lubrication of Gears - Part 1

This is a three-part article explaining the principles of gear lubrication. It reviews current knowledge of the field of gear tribology and is intended for both gear designers and gear operators. Part 1 classifies gear tooth failures into five modes and explains the factors that a gear designer and operator must consider to avoid gear failures. It defines the nomenclature and gives a list of references for those interested in further research. It also contains an in-depth discussion of the gear tooth failure modes that are influenced by lubrication and gives methods for preventing gear tooth failures.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 1990-07-01

Efficient Methods for the Synthesis of Compound Planetary Differential Gear Trains for Multiple Speed Ratio Generation

This article presents an efficient and direct method for the synthesis of compound planetary differential gear trains for the generation of specified multiple speed ratios. It is a train-value method that utilizes the train values of the integrated train components of the systems to form design equations which are solved for the tooth numbers of the gears, the number of mating gear sets and the number of external contacts in the system. Application examples, including vehicle differential transmission units, rear-end differentials with unit and fractional speed ratios, multi-input functions generators and robot wrist joints are given.
PUBLISHER'S PAGE | 1989-01-01

Leonardo, the Engineer

These lines, interesting enough, are from the notebooks of an artist whose images are part of the basic iconography of Western culture. Even people who have never set foot in a museum and wouldn't know a painting by Corregio from a sculpture by Calder, recognize the Mona Lisa. But Leonardo da Vinci was much more than an artist. He was also a man of science who worked in anatomy, botany, cartography, geology, mathematics, aeronautics, optics, mechanics, astronomy, hydraulics, sonics, civil engineering, weaponry and city planning. There was little in nature that did not interest Leonardo enough to at least make a sketch of it. Much of it became a matter of lifelong study. The breadth of his interests, knowledge, foresight, innovation and imagination is difficult to grasp.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 1988-09-01

Crowned Spur Gears: Optimal Geometry and Generation

Involute spur gears are very sensitive to gear misalignment. Misalignment will cause the shift of the bearing contact toward the edge of the gear tooth surfaces and transmission errors that increase gear noise. Many efforts have been made to improve the bearing contact of misaligned spur gears by crowning the pinion tooth surface. Wildhaber(1) had proposed various methods of crowning that can be achieved in the process of gear generation. Maag engineers have used crowning for making longitudinal corrections (Fig. 1a); modifying involute tooth profile uniformly across the face width (Fig. 1b); combining these two functions in Fig. 1c and performing topological modification (Fig. 1d) that can provide any deviation of the crowned tooth surface from a regular involute surface. (2)
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 1985-01-01

The Effect of Lubricant Traction On Wormgear Efficiency

The effect of various lubricant factors on wormgear efficiency has been evaluated using a variety of gear types and conditions. In particular, the significant efficiency improvements afforded by certain types of synthetic lubricants have been investigated to determine the cause of these improvements. This paper describes broad wormgear testing, both in the laboratory and in service, and describes the extent to which efficiency can be affected by changes in the lubricant; the effects of viscosity, viscosity index improvers and, finally, synthetic lubricants are discussed. The work concludes that lubricant tractional properties can play a significant role in determining gear efficiency characteristics.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 1984-10-01

Scoring Load Capacity of Gears Lubricated with EP-Oils

The Integral Temperature Method for the evaluation of the scoring load capacity of gears is described. All necessary equations for the practical application are presented. The limit scoring temperature for any oil can be obtained from a gear scoring test.
VOICES | 1984-08-01

A Second Rate Society - Never

What was once recognized as the unique genius of America is now slipping away from us and, in many areas, is now seen as a "second rate" capability. Unless action is taken now, this country is in real danger of being unable to regain its supremacy in technological development and economic vigor. First Americans must understand the serious implications of the problem; and second, we must dedicate ourselves to national and local actions that will ensure a greater scientific and technological literacy in America.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 1984-05-01

Advantages of Titanium Nitride Coated Gear Tools

A brief introduction to the subject of Thin Film Coatings and their application to gear hobs and shaper cutters is followed by a detailed description of the Chemical Vapor Deposition Process and the Physical Vapor Deposition Process. Advantages and disadvantages of each of these processes is discussed. Emphasis is placed upon: application engineering of coated gear tools based on laboratory and field test results. Recommendations are suggested for tool design improvements and optimization of gear cutting operations using coated tools. Productivity improvements potentially available by properly utilizing coated tools are considered in terms of both tool cost and machining cost.
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