Spines are rods, usually drive shafts, with teeth used to transfer torque between parts of a machine. The word spline also refers to the teeth on a spline or drive shaft. Despite their somewhat confusing nomenclature, splines perform relatively simple functions that are essential to the operation of automobiles and several other kinds of motorize equipment.
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Omni Gear & Machine CorporationJoliet, IL 800-876-7216 Omni G&M's skilled craftsmen have experience and knowledge in producing custom solutions-including quality and affordable spline gears-servicing many industries including graphics arts, corrugated box and bag making, food equipment, material handling, presses, roll forming, custom machinery and general industry. Whatever the job, Omni has the materials, the equipment and the know-how.
Commercial Gear & Sprocket Company, Inc.East Walpole, MA 800-491-1073 Commercial G&S Co. can be your source for the largest selection of stock and custom manufactured spline gears and more. Commercial's service is unmatched and meets the needs of each customer, tailoring its capabilities to individual needs. Commercial`s machinists, some with over 30 years experience, ensure that your job is produced to your specifications the first time-on time and every time.
Sherbrooke Gear Works, Inc.Sherbrooke, QC 819-566-1040 With more than 40 year of experience in its field, Sherbrooke is more than a manufacturer of spline gears and other related products. Sherbrooke can also provide turn-key solutions, full engineering services in power transmission systems designed to your specifications, complete engineering services and general machining and custom fabrication. For excellent results, turn to Sherbrooke.
Supreme Gear Co.Fraser, MI 586-775-6325 Supreme Gear has over 60 years of experience serving industries vital to the prosperity of countries across the globe. We manufacturer precision machined parts, such as complete spline gears, drives, gear shafts, sprockets and other gear components for many major aircraft builders like Boeing. We are committed to providing our customers with high quality gears, on time and at a competitive price.
G & K Machine Co.Commerce City, CO 800-455-0603 During three generations of family ownership, G & K Machine Company has continually updated equipment and facilities to meet the ever-changing technology and needs of the manufacturing environment, while never losing sight of the need to provide personal service and quality production. With many customer relationships over 20 years old, G & K is your quality source for quality spline gears.
Reliance Gear CorporationAddison, IL 630-543-6640 Whether your needs are five pieces or five thousand pieces, Reliance has the flexibility to provide parts when you need them. This broad experience enables Reliance to find solutions that may eliminate unnecessary operations. Reliance's main thrust is a total commitment to manufacturing its quality spline gears in the least amount of time and this can translate into significant savings.
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Spline Gears
Drive shafts could not function without splines. Drive shafts are used to transmit torque from an engine to the wheels of a vehicle, but drive shafts are also widely used in other industrial processes and even in some consumer products. In an automobile, the energy generated by the combustion reaction in the engine's cylinder forces the movement of a piston, which is connected to a rod, which eventually transfers rotational motion to the drive shaft and other industrial gears. The drive shaft would not be able to connect to other rotational motion transmission equipment without splines. Splined gears serve similar purposes in motorized watercraft and other vehicles. In a spline gear, a male spline attached to a shaft meshes with a female spline, equalizing the rotational speed. Spline gears can be, in terms of their spline shape, nonhelical, involute, or straight-sided. Spline shape contributes to the gear's durability and operation qualities.
Teeth quantity, pitch diameter, face width and length all contribute to spline gear performance. The pitch of spline gears is determined by the number of teeth and the preferred pitch diameter. Another important factor to consider is the material of construction, as different spline gear composition materials perform differently under different circumstances. Factors that contribute to optimal spline performance are its power transmission requirements, heat generation and the presence of corrosive elements. Spline gears can be made of aluminum, brass, bronze, cast iron, steel and even plastics like nylon and polycarbonates. Spline gears may also be made with a combination of metal and plastic. Splines can also be designed for use in small motors. Fans, space heaters, pumps and other small motors require a means by which the energy generated in the motor can be transferred to other moving parts. Splines provide the first avenue by which that torque can be transmitted to other moving parts. Such splines are very small and tend to vary in terms of their composition much more than do splines applied in automotive or other heavy-duty equipment contexts.
