Wear investigation of spur gear teeth

An FZG back-to-back gear test machine has been used to investigate the initial wear of spur gears. By making plastic replicas of the tooth surfaces, and measurements of the same using a 3D stylus instrument, the wear pattern has been analyzed. The wear tests were run on the machine according to a predefined schedule. During planned stops, negative surface replicas were made. The replicas were measured, and the amount and distribution of wear analyzed. SEM pictures were also taken of the tooth surfaces, and several different types of damage were identified. The results were compared with simulated results using identical loading and geometry. It was found that the wear was quite severe at the root of the wheels and also significant at the tip. The wear was also found to form an overloaded wave pattern on the original involute form of the tooth.