Gears

The Gears submenu generates gear geometry around a selected reference model. Select a model first, then choose the gear type. The selected model acts as the base/reference object for placement, projection, material/style inheritance, and initial sizing.

For gear generators with an outer diameter field, the app uses the selected model in the current projection as the sizing reference. For spur gears, the selected model’s biggest visible projected dimension is used directly as the gear’s outer diameter.

Available Gear Generators

Spur Gear

Creates a flat spur gear.

Fields:

• Gear as: choose whether to create a Driver gear or a Pinion gear.

• Teeth num: number of teeth for a driver gear.

• Pressure angle: tooth pressure angle for a driver gear.

• Desired ratio: ratio used when creating a pinion from an already selected spur gear.

Driver gear behavior:

• The selected model’s biggest visible projected dimension becomes the spur gear outer diameter.

• Tooth count and pressure angle determine the gear tooth shape.

• The generated gear stores its gear parameters in the group description.

Pinion behavior:

• Select an existing generated spur gear or part of one.

• Choose Pinion.

• Enter the desired ratio.

• The app reads the selected spur gear’s stored parameters and generates a matching pinion.

Default values are 18 teeth internally for the gear generator, 20 degree pressure angle, and a desired ratio field used for pinion generation.

Helical Gear

Creates a helical gear with twisted teeth.

Fields:

• Teeth: number of teeth.

• Outer diameter (mm): outside diameter of the gear.

• Face width (mm): gear thickness along the axis.

• Tooth height (mm): height of the teeth.

• Twist (deg): helical twist angle.

Default values are 24 teeth, 80 mm outer diameter, 14 mm face width, 4 mm tooth height, and 18 degree twist.

Straight Bevel Gear

Creates a bevel gear with straight teeth.

Fields:

• Teeth: number of teeth.

• Outer diameter (mm): outside diameter at the large end.

• Face width (mm): gear depth along the cone.

• Tooth height (mm): height of the teeth.

• Cone angle: bevel cone angle.

Default values are 24 teeth, 80 mm outer diameter, 16 mm face width, 4 mm tooth height, and 45 degree cone angle.

Spiral Bevel Gear

Creates a bevel gear with spiral/twisted teeth.

Fields:

• Teeth: number of teeth.

• Outer diameter (mm): outside diameter at the large end.

• Face width (mm): gear depth along the cone.

• Tooth height (mm): height of the teeth.

• Cone angle: bevel cone angle.

• Spiral angle: twist angle of the bevel teeth.

Default values are 24 teeth, 80 mm outer diameter, 16 mm face width, 4 mm tooth height, 45 degree cone angle, and 22 degree spiral angle.

Practical Workflow

1. Select a base/reference model.

2. Switch to the projection that represents the intended gear diameter.

3. Open Insert > Gears.

4. Choose the gear type.

5. Review the size fields and adjust teeth, width, tooth height, or angles if needed.

6. Press Create or Ok.

7. Inspect the generated gear in 3D view.

Notes

• Spur gear sizing follows the selected model’s biggest visible projected dimension automatically.

• Helical and bevel gear forms expose explicit outer diameter fields that can be edited before creation.

• For spur gear pinions, select an existing generated spur gear so the app can read the stored gear parameters.

• More teeth and higher smoothness/section-like values create heavier geometry.

• Use the projection view that best represents the intended gear diameter before opening the generator.