Gears and Splines

[Randy Maynard]

I am hoping some of you Wire Guys can help me.

 

What is the difference between a gear and a spline. I know gears have external teeth and splines have internal teeth. But more specifically, how do you use the gear c-hook in Mastercam to create both gear and spline geometry? What parameters are changed to get the different configurations?

[pip]

My personal take on this is, a gear will drive another gear in the oposite direction. But a spline drives its adjoining part in the same direction I.e. internal to external spline. as in an internal sleave driving the external sleave. I hope this help sorry if you dont understand it. Also gear teath have to engage and disingage its oposite part, but a spline tooth is always in contact with the engaged part.

[Eric S.]

A spline is used to mate 2 parte together (internal and external) which are then locked.

[Eric S.]

http://science.howstuffworks.com/gear.htm

[Eric S.]

There are "Involute splines" that are similar in form to internal and external involute gears. the internal splinr is held to basic dim. and the external spline is varied to control the fit.

[Randy Maynard]

Pip and Eric S.,

Thanks for the replies. I understand what you are saying. My question should have been directed more to Mastercam Wire EDM users. That is: Do you use the gear c-hook in Mastercam to create both BOTH gear and spline profiles? And, if so, what are the specific differences?

 

Again, thanks for the replies!