Date of Defense
4-13-1993
First Advisor
Dr. Philip Guichelaar
Second Advisor
Dr. Jerry Hamelink
Third Advisor
Dr. Lowell Wilcox
Abstract
Manufacturers of cordless screwdrivers use two planetary gear trains in series to reduce speed and multiply torque from a small electric motor. Alternately, a nutating gear drivetrain has the potential to create comparable speed reductions and torque multiplications. To apply nutating gear theory to a cordless screwdriver drivetrain, a study of spur gears, planetary gear reducers, bevel gears, and the theory of nutation was undertaken. Finally, a nutating design was proposed. The advantages of a nutating gear drivetrain over a conventional planetary gear train include: a decreased number of drivetrain parts, an ability to use lower-strength gear materials, a higher overall reliability, and a decreased manufacturing cost. An analysis of bending and surface fatigue stresses showed that nylon gears would have an infinite life.
Recommended Citation
Kedrowski, David K. and Slimak, Scott P., "Wobbling Gear Drivetrain for Cordless Screwdriver" (1993). Honors Theses. 1921.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/honors_theses/1921
Access Setting
Honors Thesis-Open Access