Tandprofilen

Tandprofilen, or the tooth profile, refers to the geometric contour of a gear tooth along the flank and tip that engages with a corresponding tooth on a mating gear. This profile, together with the tooth pitch and spacing, determines how gears mesh, transfer torque, and set the motion characteristics of the gear train.

The most widely used profile is the involute tooth profile, which provides smooth meshing and a near-constant transmission ratio despite small changes in center distance. The involute is defined in relation to a base circle, and as gears rotate, contact travels along the involute curve. Other profiles, such as cycloidal, have historical use in clocks and certain specialty gears but are less common in modern power transmission.

Key geometric concepts related to tandprofilen include the pitch circle, addendum (above the pitch line), dedendum (below the pitch line), and clearance. The pressure angle, typically around 20 degrees in many standard gears, influences tooth strength and contact behavior. Gears designed around a specific profile are produced within tolerances defined by international and national standards, such as ISO, DIN, and AGMA.

Manufacturing methods to realize a given tooth profile include hobbing, shaping, milling, and grinding, often followed by finishing processes to achieve the required accuracy and surface quality. The tooth profile is a central parameter in gear design because it directly affects load capacity, efficiency, noise, wear, and service life.

Applications for standardized tooth profiles are widespread, underpinning transmissions in machinery, automotive drivetrains, robotics, and many other mechanical systems. The choice of profile balances performance, manufacturability, and cost for the intended duty cycle.