If you’re into CNC machining, mechanical tinkering, or just love a good engineering rabbit hole, you’re in for a treat. Substack’s [lcamtuf] has written a quick yet insightful 15-minute introduction to involute gears that’s as informative as it is accessible. You can find the full article here. Compared to Hackaday’s more in-depth exploration in their Mechanisms series over the years, this piece is a beginner-friendly gateway into the fascinating world of gear design.
Involute gears aren’t just pretty spirals. Their unique geometry minimizes friction and vibration, keeps rotational speeds steady, and ensures smooth torque transfer—no snags, no skips. As [lcamtuf] points out, the secret sauce lies in their design, which can’t be eyeballed. By simulating the meshing process between a gear and a rack (think infinite gear), you can create the smooth, rolling movement we take for granted in everything from cars to coffee grinders.
From pressure angles to undercutting woes, [lcamtuf] explores why small design tweaks matter. The pièce de résistance? Profile-shifted gears—a genius hack for stronger teeth in low-tooth-count designs.
Whether you’re into the theory behind gear ratios, or in need of a nifty tool to cut them at home, Hackaday has got you covered. Inspired?
Keep in mind Lcamtuf is an ex-googler and software engineer. While his writings are probably correct, they’re not based on practice. If you need a proper reference, grab an actual textbook. “Machine Design Fundamentals” by Zbigniew Osiński is like $20 new.
Dobra już nie simpuj temu nerdowi wystarczająco się zesrałeś XD
Gears and gear cutting. It’s the law. Ivan Law
ISWYDT
This is one of those concepts that I always thought especially benefits from animation:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrsCoQN6V4M
Great video, thank you for posting it!
for a bit of fun, watch Old Tony on gears, https://youtu.be/qVN2jrn4Kuo?si=sSvfTAaQuL7805hw
+1 for anything Old Tony related…
“Substack’s [lcamtuf]”
That’s an odd thing to write! Substack is just the platform that lcamtuf is using, like WordPress or Medium. lcamtuf is a customer of Substack, not an employee or contractor.