Rack and Pinion

[Locster13]

Finally got the contrller to turn a motor a few days ago so it's time to get the hands dirty with the build of the machine... I've searched a bit for information of rack and pinions gears as I'm hoping to simply drive the pinion/spur gear directly off of the shaft of the motor... Is this ok to do?? The motor is a 600 oz-in motor and the pinion gear I'm looking has 20 theeth with a 3/4" face with a 1" pitch DIA.. Does this need to be reduced?? Working picture of the design attached..

Tony

[JerryFlyGuy]

Originally Posted by Locster13 I'm hoping to simply drive the pinion/spur gear directly off of the shaft of the motor...The motor is a 600 oz-in motor and the pinion gear I'm looking has 20 theeth with a 3/4" face with a 1" pitch DIA.. Tony

Tony, I've though of going this route also and then decided against it for a couple reasons. First is resolution. I don't know what your intended use is for your machine but w/ a 1" PD your going to move 3.1416" per rev or 0.015" per step. This is pretty course for some applications. Also your only going to get about [assuming 100% eff.] 75 lb's force from your stepper at stall torque, again this may be satisfactory for say a plasma cutter, I don't think it would work to swell for a mill or router. Your going to have steamin rapids though! I'd sugest looking at some reduction however that would again depend on your application.

Jerry

[Robyn]

You should check out T.E.A. Machine Components, Inc. for rack and gear components - www.teausa.net. They carry a wide variety of components.