Machinery & plant engineering
Spur gears, gears, and gearboxes as drive elements in machine tools, presses, and production lines — standard sizes and custom gearing to drawing.
GEAR TECHNOLOGY · EXPERTISE FROM HAMBURG
Special gearing.
Special gearing.
Custom Gear Technology
from Hamburg
From standard gears to custom-made products based on drawings—from single units to mass production.
Spur gears, bevel gears, racks, worm gear sets, and splined shafts—a robust foundation for your custom gear solution.
Mechanical Engineering
Material Handling
Custom-built machinery
Automation
Drive Technology
DIFFERENTIATION
Why choose TEA's custom gear teeth?
Our strength lies where the catalog ends: in custom manufacturing. Our standard product range provides a solid foundation—but it’s the customization that makes the difference.
Custom manufacturing
Bevel gears custom-made to your specifications, and splined shafts tailored to your requirements. Send us your specifications—we’ll make them a reality.
Wide variety of materials
Steel (C45, 42CrMo4), stainless steel, bronze (CuSn12Pb), brass, and plastics such as POM, polyketone, and Lauramid—selected to suit the load, environment, and acoustic requirements.
Custom Modules & Custom Lengths
Standard modules range from 0.3 to 8. We supply racks in custom lengths and custom cuts—beyond the standard length range of 250–2,000 mm.
Hardening & Precision Grinding
Induction-hardened racks (50–55 HRC) with a ground profile in grade 5–7. Hardening and grinding are generally possible for gear components—ensuring high load-bearing capacity and smooth operation.
Stainless Steel & Special Lubrication
Stainless steel versions of bevel gears, racks, and splined shafts—which, when combined with our gearboxes, also serve as corrosion-resistant drive solutions. Customized lubrication and seals for extended temperature ranges are available upon request.
Modular system made in Hamburg
Gear components and gearboxes from a modular system—from design and the selection of materials and gear profiles to the finished drive solution. Complete kits, including gearboxes, motors, and couplings, are also available.
GEARING PRODUCT RANGE
Geared Components — The Foundation for Your Custom Solution
Our gear technology in the strictest sense: gear components made from machine parts. Each one can serve as the starting point for a custom-designed special version.
Spur gears
Module 0.3–8 · Z 10–150 · spur/helical · steel/brass/plastic
View Product
Bevel gears
Module 0.5–5 · ratio 1:1–1:5 · custom-made to drawing
View Product
Racks & round racks
Module 0.3–6 · hardened 50–55 HRC · custom lengths / cut
View Product
Worm gear sets
Module 0.5–4 · ratio 4.63:1–47:1 · bronze / steel
View Product
Splined shafts
6–8 splines · length 1–3 m · cut to customer requirement
View ProductTooth Mesh Animation Interactive Involute Gear Tooth Profile — Module, Number of Teeth & Tooth Type
Interactive simulation
Experience gear meshing live
Freely set the module, number of teeth, and speed — the simulation computes the involute geometry to DIN 3960 in real time and shows centre distance, gear ratio, and contact ratio.
Tooth type
Spur gear: Teeth parallel to the axis — the simplest and most economical spur-gear form; at higher speeds, meshing impacts and more noise occur.
Gear ratio
i = 2.50
Centre distance
42 mm
Contact ratio ε
ε = 1.72
≥ 1.2 recommended
2
16
Module m = tooth size in mm (pitch circle ÷ number of teeth). A larger module means larger teeth and a larger centre distance; the meshing form itself depends only on the numbers of teeth.
12
840
30
860
40
slowfast
Gear Calculator Gear Geometry & Worm Gear Design
Gear geometry calculator
Pitch, tip, root, and base circle diameters for spur gears (involute gearing) — optionally with centre distance and ratio for a gear pair.
Calculate gear dimensions
Enter the module and number(s) of teeth — results appear immediately.
Formulas
d = m · z
dₐ = m · (z + 2)
d_f = m · (z − 2.5)
d_b = d · cos α
a = m · (z₁ + z₂) / 2
i = z₂ / z₁
dₐ = m · (z + 2)
d_f = m · (z − 2.5)
d_b = d · cos α
a = m · (z₁ + z₂) / 2
i = z₂ / z₁
m = module [mm]
z = number of teeth [—]
α = pressure angle [°]
d = pitch circle diameter [mm]
dₐ = tip circle diameter [mm]
d_f = root circle diameter [mm]
d_b = base circle diameter [mm]
a = centre distance [mm]
i = gear ratio [—]
z = number of teeth [—]
α = pressure angle [°]
d = pitch circle diameter [mm]
dₐ = tip circle diameter [mm]
d_f = root circle diameter [mm]
d_b = base circle diameter [mm]
a = centre distance [mm]
i = gear ratio [—]
Standard pressure angle α = 20° per DIN 867. For special gears (e.g. helical teeth, profile shift) the effective rolling-circle diameters differ — this calculator applies to uncorrected spur (straight) gears.
Typical geometry coefficients (DIN 867)
Addendum coefficient h*ₐ 1.0 · m
Dedendum coefficient h*_f 1.25 · m
Total tooth height h 2.25 · m
Pressure angle (standard) α = 20°
Worm gear design & self-locking
Calculate the gear ratio, lead angle, and efficiency of a worm gear set (worm + worm wheel) — including an automatic self-locking indicator based on the γ/ρ method.
Inputs
Fill in all fields — results appear automatically.
Guideline value, oil-lubricated steel/bronze: 0.03–0.06
Formulas
i = z₂ / z₁
tan γ = z₁ · m / d₁
ρ = arctan(μ)
η = tan γ / tan(γ + ρ)
η' = tan(γ − ρ) / tan γ
tan γ = z₁ · m / d₁
ρ = arctan(μ)
η = tan γ / tan(γ + ρ)
η' = tan(γ − ρ) / tan γ
i = gear ratio [—]
z₁ = number of worm starts [—]
z₂ = number of teeth, worm wheel [—]
m = module [mm]
d₁ = worm reference diameter [mm]
γ = mean lead angle [°]
μ = friction coefficient (tooth friction) [—]
ρ = friction angle [°]
η = forward efficiency (worm drives) [—]
η′ = back-driving efficiency (wheel drives) [—]
z₁ = number of worm starts [—]
z₂ = number of teeth, worm wheel [—]
m = module [mm]
d₁ = worm reference diameter [mm]
γ = mean lead angle [°]
μ = friction coefficient (tooth friction) [—]
ρ = friction angle [°]
η = forward efficiency (worm drives) [—]
η′ = back-driving efficiency (wheel drives) [—]
Rule of thumb
Worm gears are often self-locking from i ≈ 30 — but the decisive factor is the lead angle γ relative to the friction angle ρ. The smaller γ and the larger μ, the more reliable the self-locking.
Typical friction coefficients μ
Steel/bronze, oil-lubricated 0.03–0.06
Steel/bronze, grease-lubricated 0.06–0.10
Steel/steel, dry 0.10–0.20
Plastic/steel, dry 0.08–0.15
Note: The calculation tools provided are intended solely for initial guidance and do not replace a binding design by qualified personnel. All results must be verified by appropriate engineering calculations before use in safety-critical applications. Technische Antriebselemente GmbH assumes no liability for damages resulting from the use of the calculation results.
What We Customize — Customization Matrix Materials, modules, curing, and custom lengths by component group
CUSTOMIZATIONS
What we customize
Overview of materials, sizes, and special options for each gear component. Fields left blank are not included in the standard product range and must be requested for custom solutions.
| Product group | Materials | Module / size | Hardening / surface | Custom length / cut | Manufacturing to drawing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spur gears | Brass, plastic, steel, lauramide | Module 0.3–8 · Z 10–150 | on request | on request | on request |
| Bevel gears | C45, stainless steel, POM, polyketone | Module 0.5–5 · quality 8f24 | on request | on request | Custom-made to drawing |
| Racks | Brass, plastic, C45, stainless steel, 42CrMo4 | Module 0.3–6 (round 1–5) | Induction 50–55 HRC · ground Q5–7 | 250–2,000 mm · custom lengths / cut | on request |
| Worm gear sets | Bronze (CuSn12Pb), ETG 100 | Module 0.5–4 · Z 20–150 | on request | on request | on request |
| Splined shafts | Steel, stainless steel · sleeves: steel/bronze/stainless steel | 6–8 splines · length 1–3 m | on request | Cut to customer requirement | Tailor-made to customer requirement |
“Upon request” = Not included in the standard product range; custom solutions are available—please inquire. All other information is taken from the product specifications.
Gear Technology in Action Application examples from mechanical engineering, conveyor technology, and specialized engineering
APPLICATIONS
Gear Technology in Action
Conveyor & packaging technology
Racks, gears, and gearboxes for lifting, swivelling, and conveying movements — robust, low-maintenance, in stainless steel on request.
Special machinery & automation
Low-backlash planetary gearboxes and smooth-running gearboxes for precise, dynamic positioning axes in automation solutions.
Drive solutions from a single source
Gearboxes combined with motors and couplings from the TEA portfolio — up to the fully assembled gearmotor with three-phase, AC, or DC motor.
Frequently Asked Questions About Gear Technology
Our current range includes, among others: custom manufacture of gears to drawing, custom lengths and customer-specific cuts for racks, induction-hardened and ground rack versions, and cutting of splined shafts to customer requirement. For more extensive special gearing, please get in touch.
Spur gears: module 0.3–8 with 10–150 teeth. Bevel gears: module 0.5–5.0 (15–60 teeth). Racks: module 0.3–6 (round racks 1.0–5.0). Worm gear sets: module 0.5–4.0. The standard pressure angle is 20° per DIN 867. For special gearing outside the standard, please contact our sales team.
Depending on the component: steel (e.g. C45, 42CrMo4), stainless steel, bronze (CuSn12Pb), brass, and plastics such as POM, polyketone, and lauramide. The choice of material depends on load, environment (e.g. corrosion, food contact), and acoustic requirements. For non-standard cases, please contact our sales team.
Racks are available induction-hardened (typically 50–55 HRC at the tooth flank) and with a ground tooth profile (quality 5–7). Hardening and grinding are generally possible for gear parts.
Gears are manufactured to quality 8f24. Racks are available in standard quality 8–10 and as a ground precision version in quality 5–7.
Yes. We manufacture gears as individual custom production to drawing, and we supply splined shafts as tailor-made solutions to customer requirement. Send us your drawing or specification for a quote.
Yes. R/RH/R5 bevel gearboxes are optionally available with a stainless steel housing, the shafts of our compact bevel gearboxes are made of stainless steel, and bevel gears, racks, and splined shafts are available in stainless steel versions.
CAD data is available for many products via TraceParts; the direct links and the PDF catalogues can be found under the download resources on the respective product page. For special gearing, we create the manufacturing documents based on your drawing.
Yes. Our gearboxes can be combined with motors and couplings from the TEA portfolio — up to the fully assembled gearmotor with three-phase, AC, or DC motor.