1. What is Planetary Gear Ratio?

The planetary gear ratio determines the relationship between input and output speeds in a planetary gear system. It's a fundamental parameter in gearbox design, affecting torque and speed characteristics.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the planetary gear ratio formula:

Where:

• Ring Teeth — Number of teeth on the ring gear
• Sun Teeth — Number of teeth on the sun gear

Explanation: The equation shows that the gear ratio depends on the relationship between the ring gear (stationary in simple planetary systems) and sun gear (input in simple systems).

3. Importance of Gear Ratio Calculation

Details: Accurate gear ratio calculation is crucial for designing efficient transmission systems, determining torque multiplication, and achieving desired speed reduction or increase.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the number of teeth for both ring and sun gears. Both values must be positive integers (typically > 10 for practical gear systems).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's a typical planetary gear ratio range?
A: Common ratios range from 3:1 to 10:1 for single-stage systems, with higher ratios achieved through compound planetary arrangements.

Q2: How does planet gear teeth count affect the ratio?
A: The planet gears don't directly affect the ratio in simple systems, but they must mesh properly with both sun and ring gears.

Q3: Can I use this for compound planetary systems?
A: This calculator is for simple planetary systems. Compound systems require additional calculations for each stage.

Q4: What if my ring gear is the input instead of stationary?
A: The ratio changes based on which component is fixed, which is input, and which is output. Different configurations yield different ratios.

Q5: How precise do tooth counts need to be?
A: Very precise - gear teeth must be integers and follow proper meshing rules (sum of ring and sun teeth must be divisible by number of planets).