KEVOS® MAKEOS · Gears

Spur Gear Pitting Resistance Power Rating (AGMA)

How much power can this spur gear pair transmit before pitting governs?

Allowable transmitted power for pitting resistance by the AGMA power rating formula (metric form), with the external or internal spur gear geometry factor I calculated from the pressure angle and ratio, the dynamic, size, load-distribution, surface and application factors, and the allowable contact stress with its life and hardness factors.

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How this tool works

Inputs, units and where to find them

InputUnitTypical source
Pinion speedrpmSpeed of the pinion.
Net face widthmmNet face width in contact.
Pinion operating pitch diametermmOperating pitch diameter of the pinion.
Gear ratio (gear ÷ pinion teeth)Gear ratio (always 1 or more).
GearingchoiceExternal or internal mesh, for the geometry factor.
Pressure angle°Operating transverse pressure angle.
Geometry factor IchoiceCalculate I for standard spur gears (load sharing ratio 1), or enter it from AGMA 908.
Geometry factor I (entered)Geometry factor for pitting resistance.
Dynamic factor C_v (≤ 1)Dynamic factor in the older AGMA form (1 or less).
Size factor C_sSize factor.
Load distribution factor C_mLoad distribution factor.
Surface condition factor C_fSurface condition factor.
Application factor C_aApplication (overload) factor.
Allowable contact stress numberMPaAllowable contact stress number for the material and heat treatment (use the lower of pinion and gear).
Life factor C_LLife factor for the number of cycles.
Hardness ratio factor C_HHardness ratio factor (gear only).
Elastic coefficient C_p√MPaElastic coefficient (191 √MPa for steel on steel).
Temperature factor C_TTemperature factor.
Reliability factor C_RReliability factor.
Power to transmitkWPower you need to transmit.

Method and formulas

  1. Geometry factor (spur, m_N = 1): I = cos φ sin φ ÷ 2 × m_G ÷ (m_G ± 1), + for external, − for internal gears.
  2. P_ac = n_p F ÷ 1.91 × 10⁷ × I C_v ÷ (C_s C_m C_f C_a) × [d S_ac C_L C_H ÷ (C_p C_T C_R)]² kW, with F and d in mm and S_ac in MPa (handbook formula 5a).
  3. Example: a 60 mm pinion, 30 mm face at 1500 rpm rates 13.795 kW for pitting.

Limitations

  • Spur gears without helix; helical gears need the load sharing ratio in I.
  • Rate both pinion and gear with their own S_ac C_L C_H and use the lower.
  • Example values are illustrations. Replace them with values for your actual task.

Typical uses

  • Rate a spur gear pair for power
  • Check a gear set against a motor power
  • Compare face width or material options for durability

Who it is for

  • Gear designers
  • Design engineers
  • Maintenance engineers

What you get

  • Geometry factor I
  • Allowable power for pitting
  • Service factor against the required power

Interpreting the result

  • Pitting capacity rises with the square of pinion diameter and allowable stress, but only linearly with face width.

References

  • Machinery’s Handbook, 29th edition (Industrial Press, 2012), printed pp. 3304–3313. Topic reference; no source tables or recommended settings are reproduced.

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Open the Spur Gear Pitting Resistance Power Rating (AGMA) calculator