Gears: Screw worm-helical wheel 1

1. Generalities:

The worm gear system

helical (Figure 1) is used to transmit
power between intersecting axes, in most of the
cases perpendicular to each other. Comparing them with
other types of gears can be obtained
satisfactorily relationships of transmission
relatively high, in a small volume of space,
although perhaps at the cost of lower performance.

This type of broadcasts is actually a case

specific transmission of movement between shafts
shaped by means of helical gear wheels.
Specifically, one of the wheels has a diameter
smaller and an angle of inclination of the larger tooth of
the usual ones, so that their teeth
Fig. 1 Screw and gear wheel
they must continue to reach the front flanks
curling in the crown, transforming into fillets.

The problems caused by the impact forces produced in the gear meshing.
straight and other types, there is none in the screw thread. Instead, the threads slide in
permanent contact with the teeth of the wheel, resulting in operation
silent, if the design, manufacture, and operation are correct.

As the sliding is greater, sometimes difficulties arise from heat due to friction.
It is very common for this system to tend to overheat under extreme load conditions.
In fact, this variable must be taken into account in the design of the box or casing that will include the
gears.

The section of a screw thread in a diametral axial plane is generally of flanks.

rectangles, since it is the section of a helical rack tooth. If the worm screw were to move
without turning in the direction of a straight line perpendicular to the axis of the wheel, the action of the teeth in
a plane that contains the axis of the screw and is normal to the axis of the wheel would be analogous to the action of
tooth of a zipper on a wheel. The straight sides of the screw thread facilitate the
production in terms of quantity and accuracy.

The gear ratios that are considered normal for power transmissions are from 1:25 to
1:200. There are also screw transmissions with very high gear ratios,
around 500 or 1000, but in these cases they are used to transfer small powers.

The advantages of this type of motion transmissions include:

a. Compactness, that is to say the possibility of making large transmission relationships, being
relatively small the exterior dimensions of the set.
b. Operational safety and ease of service.
c. Possibility of automatic braking.

The disadvantages of these transmissions are:

a. Large power losses that appear as friction losses that will be seen
reflected in an increase in system temperature, with an efficiency of between 75-85%.
Gears: screw worm-helical wheel 2

b. Need for the use of special and high-quality bronzes as these materials possess
more favorable properties than similar steel parts such as; less accumulation of
energy in elastic applications, resist corrosion, the fatigue threshold is lower than the
of steels, besides being better conductors of heat and electricity.

2. Terminology of Screw Conveyor - Helical Wheel

The terminology used to describe the infinity is very similar to that used for screws.
power.

The axial pitch of the screw is the distance between corresponding points of adjacent teeth, and the
Advance is the axial distance that the screw travels during one turn of it. There is usually a
slight confusion of terms since in the screw conveyor the pitch is the axial pitch Pt, which when
the axes are perpendicular to each other is the same as the circular pitch Pc in the gear wheel of
screw conveyor; for this case Pt = Pc.

The same as with helical gears, those of the worm screw have a pitch.
normal Pcn (Figure 2), but the lead angle of the screw, which is formed by a tangent to
the primitive helix and the plane of rotation is more convenient to use than the angle of the helix w of
screw.

L: length of the screw conveyor.

-ptaxial pitch between screw threads.
-a: head height (appendix) of the fillet.
-d: root height (depending) of the fillet.
-h: total height of the fillet.
- screw advance angle.
- diinner or root diameter of the screw.
-dpprimitive diameter of the screw.
-deexternal diameter of the screw.
-pcrcircumferential step of the wheel.
-Diinner diameter of the wheel.
-Dpprimitive diameter of the wheel.
-Dtdiameter of the wheel throat.
-Deexternal diameter of the wheel.
b: axial width of the wheel.
- angle of the face of the wheel.

Fig. 2 Terminology of the screw worm - helical wheel

The worm screw can have one or more teeth located in

the pitch of the helix and it will have one or multiple entries. Without
However, most of the screws have threads.
multiple, so that the progress is obtained by multiplying the
number of helices (or the number of entries or teeth) by the
step. The number of teeth or threads included in the
The space of the propeller step will always be an integer.

The axial distance that the helix advances in one revolution is the
advance or helical step (P). Both in the primitive cylinder
whose diameter is (dp), like in the addendum cylinders
(de), base, etc., all the blades that form the guide have
the same advance, but the angle of advance varies.
Gears: Screw worm-helical wheel 3

While force screws are generally single-threaded, worm screws have

usually multiple threads, unless another mechanical advantage is more important than it
performance. When a screw jack makes a complete revolution, a point on the circumference
The primitive of the toothed wheel covers an arc equal to the advance, P = N Pt, but to calculate the
The speed relationship is easier to make use of the number of threads 'm' (or entries) of the screw and the
number of teeth of wheel 'Z'; i = m / Z where m = 1 for a simple lead screw, m = 2
for a double guide, etc. If a high-performance power transmission is intended
You can have 4, 6, or more threads on the screw.

3. Transmission Relationship

The transmission ratio can be obtained as in the general case as the ratio between the
number of teeth of the drive wheel and the driven wheel, but particularly referring to the
worm screw, it is not referred to as the number of teeth but as the number of starts or threads. If we consider the
screw as a driving wheel, (generally serves that function), the transmission ratio
will be worth

Where: m: number of screw threads

Z: number of teeth of the wheel

With the common values of m = 1 to 4, it will be observed that the transmission relationships are large.
and of such magnitude that cannot be normally achieved with cylindrical or conical gears
common.

The transmission ratio can also be obtained through considerations of another kind: In
it would appear that when turning the wheel, the screw's thread would advance axially with a
displacement speed Va, equal to the tangential speed of the wheel corresponding to
its primitive construction cylinder. In appearance then, the screw would act as a
zipper. What actually happens is that the section of the filet that comes into contact with the
wheel in an instant, is replaced in other moments by other sections that show the same
appearance.

The apparent speed of advancement of the screw is then equal to the tangential speed of the cylinder.
primitive

P = Helix pitch
t = Axial pitch (Pt), distance between two threads
Ω contiguous in the direction of the axis (it must be equal to the step of the
wheel)
V The tangential speed of the wheel is equal to:
a
VT = 2 . Rr . nr
nr
Rr Equalizing: m . t . nt = 2 . Rr . nr

Fig. 3 Kinematics of the worm gear–helical wheel

Gears: Screw spiral-helical wheel 4

4. Construction types

There are two types of worm screw: the straight or parallel type, and the globoidal type.

Straight type screw conveyor. (Fig. 5 a)

It constitutes the common constructive form of gears of this type. The surfaces
The primitive shapes of straight worm screws are cylinders, and the teeth have an involute profile.
simple, this means that there is a single contact point between the surfaces of the screw and the
helical wheel. For this reason, the torque, wheel, and cylindrical screw are only suitable for transmitting
relatively small tangential forces.

Uses of straight-type worm screws:

They are generally used taking advantage of their irreversibility in applications such as elevators, cranes,
steering mechanisms of automobiles, in some cases like centrifugal machines.

Globe worm gear shafts. (Fig. 5 b and c)

The main characteristic of this type of gear is

which has greater contact surface between the wheel
and the screw, for what is said to be wrapped up
one another, which increases the capacity of
transmit torque. These systems can be simple
or double envelope. In the envelope set
simple (Fig. 5 b), the width of the helical wheel is
cut with a concave surface, in this way
partially wraps around the screw while being
gearing. If the wheel is properly machined
spherical, a linear contact is obtained. The contact Fig. 4 Screw worm helical globoidal wheel
linear means an important advantage regarding the
point of contact that occurs between the wheel and the cylindrical screw. In the case of double
enveloping (Fig. 4 or 5 c), both the wheel and the length of the screw are cut with surfaces
concave. As a result, both are partially enclosed when engaging. This effect
it allows for a greater number of teeth in contact and an area instead of a line of
contact as verified in the simple envelope, allowing for the transmission of greater loads
(around 100hp). A disadvantage is the difficulty of manufacturing since it
They need milling machines with the specific shape of the teeth and for the high precision of the machines.
tools. Despite the comparative advantages gained from good contact, the use of
this constructive form is limited to certain special cases since the correct execution of the
Teeth are a delicate problem. Likewise, it should also be taken into account that all these systems
The gears must be carefully mounted to ensure proper functioning, without
embargo, those with double wrapping or "cone" type, are much more difficult to assemble than those of
simple enveloping.

a) b) c)

Fig. 5 Constructive forms

Gears: Screw worm-helical wheel 5

Uses of globoid worm gears.

Speed reducers (reduction in size and weight), lifting equipment, textile machinery,
turbines, airplanes, machines for the food industry, barrier gates for channels,
excavators, machine tools, ship rudders, locomotives for mining, rolling mills,
tractors.

Tracing of the profiles of the teeth

In the case of the Cylindrical Wheel and the Cylindrical Screw, we are primarily interested in
what happens on the symmetry plane over which the gear will be verified. We will represent
So, to carry out the gear study in this case, a cut in the diametral plane of
Screw and the middle plane of the wheel. In Figure 6, both the mean primitive circumference can be seen.
from the wheel, like the generators of the primitive cylinder of the Screw. In the particular case of the
Helical Wheel will verify that its mean primitive circumference matches the circumference.
of throat del helix
developable that defines the surface
primitive of movement.
For the purposes of transmission of
movement, the Screw acts as
a zipper. The screw's tooth
as it spins, it goes
pushing the tooth of the Wheel,
producing the same effect
apparently screwing or
displacing it axially.

The profile of the screw will then be in

diametral cut correspondence
represented, the profile of the
zipper conjugated from the profile
adopted for the wheel tooth.
If a profile is adopted as evolute, of
pressure angle (α) will result
simple the tracing of the profiles by
the procedures already studied. The
the tooth side of the screw will not be
a developable helicoid of the type
studied when dealing with the wheels
helical toothed cylindrical.
the side of the steak of the Screw is a
limit case of the developable helicoid
that presents itself when the helix of
reversal degenerates into a line, the axis
of the helicoid.
Fig. 6 Plotting of the tooth profiles

When studying the case of the Cylindrical Screw and the Spherical Wheel, the section in the plane of symmetry is
the same that corresponds to the form Screw and cylindrical Wheel, consequently the thread does not vary
of the screw, but since a linear contact is desired, the tooth of the Wheel must be given a
in such a way that it checks contact with the screw thread for sections other than the section
The teeth of the Wheel do not then result in a normal section to its direction, uniform.
Gears: Screw worm-helical wheel 6

5. Standardized dimensions of screws and wheels

Like the other types of gears, these elements are subject to standardization.
The dimensions of the different parts based on the wheel pitch provided by the AGMA
for 1 and 2 entry screws, they are as follows:

Primitive Diameter of the Screw:

Dpt = 2.4 . t + 1.1 (in inches)
Primitive Diameter of the Wheel:
Dpr = Zr . t/π = 0.318 . t . Zr (t/π = 0.318 . t)
Outer diameter of the Wheel:
Dre = Dpr . 2t/π + 0.954 . t
Outer diameter of the screw:
Dte = Dpt + 2 . t/π = Dpt + 0.636 . t
Width of the Helical Wheel:
b = 2.38 . t + 0.25 (inches)

For screws with a higher number of threads, there are other formulas that relate the dimensions of
its parts with the passage of the wheel.

Pressure angle
The pressure angle for the layout by evolvents of the tooth profiles is adopted at
function of the screw's helix angle, since when the latter increases it must be increased
also the pressure angle to avoid interference problems and make it less difficult to
screw manufacturing.
α = 14° 30’ λ < 12°
The values of (α) as a function of the helix angle (λ) are: α = 20° 12° < λ < 20°
α = 22° 30’ 20° < λ < 25°
α = 25° λ > 25°

Materials and manufacturing of worm gears and helical wheels

In most cases, screws are made of alloyed steel with hardening.
superficial (generally cemented). For high-performance transmissions, are used
specifically tempered screws by immersion or by flaming, ground and polished with a
hardness of 65 to 59 Rockwell. For example, steels DIN 17210 or DIN 17200.

The preferred materials for the wheels of these gears are bronzes, especially tin bronze and
nickel-tin (which may or may not be cast in a mold, a process that produces hardening)
superficial). However, other bronzes are also frequently used, for example, with lead.
(for high speed) and those made of aluminum and silicon (for low speed and heavy load gears).
To reduce costs, especially on large wheels, a bronze rim or crown is used
fixed to a central core of cast iron or molded steel. For high transmissions.
performance is preferably constructed from phosphor bronze, for example, from GBZ14, for greater
hardness of centrifuged execution, or bronze-aluminum, or pearlitic cast iron. With the hardness
it increases resistance to rolling and wear, but also susceptibility to corrosion and to
the demands of a more precise assembly. For lightly loaded worm gear transmissions or with
lower tangential speed, aluminum alloys are also used for the wheel crown,
grey cast iron, zinc alloy and synthetic materials.

The manufacturing of the worm screw mechanism is done similarly to that of gears.
since it is a gear. The threads or screws of the screw can be cut in a lathe, or with
stamping matrices, or they can be milled with a disc cutter, carved by generation or by cutter
Gears: Screw worm-helical wheel 7

mother, either brushed or molded. The wheels are generally milled. The teeth are manufactured
commercially through two distinct processes: Casting and machining. Initially, they were obtained by
casting, producing molds with complete wheel models. Currently, the wheels
castings are obtained through a mixed process of molding and machining. Generally, the teeth
obtained even with the perfected casting processes are not suitable for the
operates at high speeds, which is why it is used for machinery with low demand.
Many small wheels made of zinc, tin, aluminum, and copper are obtained by molding.
pressure, achieving good precision and good surface finish.

En el mecanizado pueden seguirse dos métodos generales: por conformación y por generación. En
In shaping machining, the teeth are cut on a milling machine or a shaper with a tool to which
it has given it the exact required shape with a copying tool that provides the desired profile
following a pattern or with a scalper.

6. Resistant calculation of the teeth of the worm gear

In gear sets of this type, the teeth or threads of the screw are always more
resistances that the teeth of the wheel. Therefore, for the resistant calculation of the assembly, it is applied
the Lewis-Barth formula adapted for this particular case and with it, the calculation is made exclusively of the
wheel, since the screw's thread is less stressed:

Fb = b . t . y . ad.

Expression of the tooth's resistance to bending (Fb), which must be greater than the tangential force of
the wheel (Fx) necessary for the transmission, where:

b = width of the wheel (generally taken as 1.5 to 2 times the screw pitch (t).)
t = circumferential pitch of the gear
y = Form factor of the tooth profile in the midplane of the wheel.
ad = allowable bending stress, tabulated in manuals.
Vd = relative sliding speed between the screw and nut in meters per minute.

Dynamic loading of worm gear drives

The dynamic load of these gears is usually calculated using the following formula:

Where Ft is the load transmitted calculated by the power equation applied to the wheel.
Tooth; Ft = 33000 HP/vp, with vp in ft/min, and where vp is the speed in the circumference
primitive of the wheel, being strictly the power the output, taking into account the
system performance.

Equation of the allowable wear load for worm gear teeth

For the calculation of wear resistance, there are several formulas, which do not have generality in this.
case the proposal by Buckingham for cylindrical wheels.

The A.G.M.A. promotes the following formula:

where A = surface of the tooth flank that makes contact, that is, that actually works,
projected onto a plane normal to the axis of the screw.
Ho = useful height of the teeth
Gears: Screw worm-helical wheel 8

β° = angle formed by the radial sections of the wheel that are considered extreme to the
effects of their participation in the resistance.
tooth inclination angle
Surface limit fatigue or wear limit fatigue depends on the materials in contact and
Mr.
Cs = service factor that depends on the continuity or discontinuity of work, of the action
dynamics of the loads etc.

From the figure, we observe that:

b/2 b
You / 2 = ------------- = -------------
DT/2 + hc DT+ 2 hc
b
= 2 arcsin
DT+ 2 hc

Area of the ring AT = ho x DT x 

From what we can deduce the projected area A, which will be:

ho xDT x x º ho xDT x x º
A = AT x     A

360 114.6

7. Thermal capacity of the screw conveyor - helical wheel assembly

In many cases, the power transmission capacity is determined by the capacity.

radiant from the box or sump, a capacity that in turn depends on environmental conditions.
In fact, almost all of these units have power capacity limited by the possibility of dissipation.
of heat from the casing.

If the gearbox overheats, the lubricant film can thin out too much and
cutting off allows for direct contact between the surfaces to be established. When this
it occurs, friction increases, more heat is generated, and finally, a serious abrasion occurs and
abrasion. Extreme pressure (EP) lubricants reduce these difficulties when the
driving and driven elements are made of steel.

The heat transfer from the cover occurs by both radiation and convection.
heat Q that must be dissipated in a gear box is equal to the loss due to friction, the
which is in turn equal to the input power HPi multiplied by (1 - e), where e is the
transmission performance.

The amount of heat dissipated by the box depends on the following factors: the area of the box,
temperature difference between the box and the environment and the transmissivity or transmission coefficient
of heat hcr, which is in turn a function of the temperature, of the speed of the air that strikes the
box and other variables. As the environmental temperatures that usually intervene vary
little, hcr varies with the dimensions of the box and the speed of the air.
Gears: Screw conveyor-helical wheel 9

The heat dissipation capacity of the gearbox is expressed by H = C . A . ∆t

where A is the radiant area of the smooth-walled box in square inches in the ambient air.
∆t is the increase in temperature of the lubricant with respect to the ambient temperature.
the maximum lubricant temperature should not exceed, if possible, 88°C (196°F). For
heavy-duty worm gear speed reducers, the AGMA
recommend a minimum area of the envelope, excluding the base, flanges, and fins or
nerves
C = Combined heat transfer coefficient.

8. Reciprocal actions that take place in the contact between the threads of the screw and the teeth
of the wheel

We will assume for simplicity the force Fn (resulting from the pressures transmitted between
the teeth in contact, normal to the surfaces of the flanks) concentrated at the point of
contact of the primitive cylinder of the screw with the mean primitive circumference of the wheel, on
the normal common to the axes of movement. Fn is contained in the normal plane (x-y) and to the
direction of the teeth in contact.

Proposed axes:
Axis (X) direction of the wheel axis
Y axis screw thread direction
Axis (Z) normal to the previous ones and to the axes of movement.
αn = pressure angle of the profiles in contact in plane A-A. (actual pressure angle)

It can be decomposedFn as:

FH: component in the X-Y plane

FH = Fn . cosαn

FZ: component in the Z direction

FZ = Fn . sin(αn)

In addition to the normal force Fn that is

transmits between the flanks in contact of
the teeth, should be taken into account the
frictional forces that are developed
for the slipping and that oppose to the
relative movement between them. The
the magnitude of this force is evidently
μ.N, and its direction coincides with the
direction of the relative velocity of
sliding.
Fig. 7 Reciprocal actions between both teeth
Gears: Screw worm-helical wheel 10

Motor Screw
If we consider the state of forces that occurs when the Screw is the driving gear, (case
more common), it can be seen that if the direction of movement of the axes is as indicated in the previous figure,
Fn is the normal force on the flanks in contact exerted by the thread of the screw on the tooth of the wheel.
Additionally, the frictional force (μ.N) develops on the wheel, which will oppose the movement.
relative to the tooth of the wheel with respect to the thread of the screw and that will consequently have the direction
indicated in the figure, being contained in the X-Y plane.

At the same time, the wheel reacts on the screw with a force normal to the flanks in contact (-Fn)
and a frictional force (-μ.N) develops on the screw thread that opposes the
relative sliding of the screw with respect to the wheel.

Projecting the forces onto the reference axes, the following components of the
forces acting on the wheel, when the screw is the motor, corresponding to the contact of
its average primitive circumference with the "primitive" cylinder of the screw:

Fx = FH . sin +μ. Fn . cos

Fy = FH . cos -μ. Fn . sen
Remembering that:FH = Fn . cosαn

cosan + cos. μ)
Fx = Fn ( sin .
Fy = Fn (cos. cosan -sen . μ)
Fz = Fn . sin(αn)
These three forces apply to the wheel tree in different states of tension:
Fx: TANGENTIAL FORCE OF THE SCREW OR AXIAL COMPONENT OF THE WHEEL, useful force or moment
motor transmitted, which provides the rotational movement of the screw. It can be obtained based on the power
transmitted by the motor shaft and its angular speed:
( : performance of the drive shaft transmission)
Translating to the axis of the wheel Fx transforms into:
An axial thrust: Fx
A moment Fx. Rr (which will bend the tree)

Fy: FORCE OR TANGENTIAL COMPONENT OF THE WHEEL, useful force that causes the rotational movement of
la rueda. Puede obtenerse en función del momento resistente ofrecido por el árbol conducido:
Mr = Fy . Rr . r ( r : output of the driven shaft transmission )
Moved Fy to the axis of the wheel, it transforms into:
A Normal Load Fy (which bends the tree and produces axial thrust on the supports)
A torsor moment: Fy. Rr

Fz: RADIAL FORCE OR COMPONENT, acts on the wheel axis bending it.

The reactions to these forces (- Fn) and (-μ . Fn) of the

wheel acts on the screw and its components according to
the directions of the reference axes:
Fx: Tangential component
Fy: Axial component
Fz: Radial component

What determines the following solicitations on the screw shaft:

An Axial Push - Fy
A Moment Fy. Rt (bends the tree)
A Normal Load - Fx (bends the tree)
Gears: Screw worm-helical wheel 11

A Torsor Moment Fx . Rt
A Radial Load - Fz (bend the tree)

Let's now see what the tangential force that must be applied to the motor screw would be, to obtain a
a certain tangential force on the wheel that acts in this case as the driven gear. That is,
Given a necessary Fy for the wheel, determine the Fx that must be applied to the screw.

Dividing member by member the expressions of Fx and Fy in terms of Fn:

If we assume that = 0, that is to say that

we disregard the inclination of the flank of
tooth, a simplified expression is obtained
of the strength:

Fx = Fy . Tg ( + )

where = arc Tg μ

Drive Wheel
If we want to move the screw by turning the wheel, it exerts a force Fn on it.
a frictional force being generated that will act on the screw opposing the movement
relative to it concerning the wheel. Maintaining the same direction of movement as in the case.
previously, the expressions of the components according to the directions of the reference axes of the
forces acting on the screw will be:
.

cosan -cos. μ)
Fx = Fn ( sin .
Fy = Fn (cos. cosan + sen . μ)
Fz = Fn . sin(αn)

The tangential force Fy that is necessary to apply to the wheel in order to obtain a tangential force Fx in
the screw, okay:

.
If we consider an 0, cos αn
1:

9. Conditions of reversibility and irreversibility

The previous expression Fy = f(Fx) reveals to us that it is not always possible to transmit movement from
the wheel to the screw. Thus, we call Irreversibility the condition in which if to the axis of the
A torsional torque will be applied to the wheel, the worm does not rotate. It is 'stuck', this jamming is
Gears: Screw worm-helical wheel 12

It is due to the frictional force between the threads of the screw and the teeth of the wheel, which depends a lot
of the advance angle.

When > Reversibility condition, at least theoretically applying a certain sufficient Fy, is
possible to move the screw.

When < Irreversibility condition, it is not possible to move the screw by turning the wheel, since the
the developed friction exceeds the energy exerted by the driving forces.

It is recommended that the advance angle not exceed approximately 5° to ensure that
there is self-withholding. This lead angle usually requires the use of a single-entry screw, and
this small angle results in low efficiency with values of 60%.

10. Performance

We will only consider the case of Screw Motor.

For this motion transformation, the transmission efficiency results from the ratio:

Where:

Vr = Velocidad tangencial de la rueda

Vt = Velocidad tangencial del tornillo
For cinematic reasons, the components normal to the direction of the velocity fillets
tangents must be equal:

Vn = Vr . cos = Vt . sine ⟶

If we assume for simplification

An expression similar to what can be deduced for the performance of the movement screws of
square fillet.
Being generally not negligible, it must be taken into account in performance calculations.
The effect of friction on the flanks of the tooth causes these gears to have the efficiencies
lower than all transmissions, ranging between approximately 40 and 90%
depending on the characteristics of the reducer and the work it is subjected to.

Factors that enhance performance

High lead angles in the screw.

Low friction (good lubrication) of the equipment.
Low transmission relationship (most determining factor)
Gears: Screw-nut helical wheel 13

The graph presents the values of

performance as a function of the advance angle for
different values of μ⟶ μ = 0,02 μ = 0,04 μ =
0.06 (decreasing)
Corresponding to a = 20°

It is verified that the maximum performance is obtained

for values of =45°- /2 , increasing the
yields for the same values of with the
decrease in the coefficient of friction μ.

As can be deduced from the equations, the advance angle, the normal pressure angle and the
Friction coefficient affects the performance of the system. Among these variables, the one that has the effect
the larger is the advance angle, over which the designer has greater control. It is observed that
the higher it is, the performance increases up to approximately 45°. On the other hand, the
The number of threads on the screw also has a significant influence on performance values.
Thus, to achieve high efficiency, screws with multiple threads are used, having certainly the
disadvantage of significantly lowering the gear ratio resulting in a more
bulky. In general, a compromise solution is chosen.

The coefficient of friction μ plays a main role in the operation of a Screw assembly.
endless helicoidal screw, because it has, inherently, a significant sliding contact
between the threads of the screw and the teeth of the wheel.

The coefficient of friction μ depends on the materials used, the lubricant, and the speed of
sliding. The values of μ for high-quality screw conveyors operating in bath of
the oil is around 0.05. With well-cut screws and perfect lubrication, you can achieve
to obtain values of μ=0.02, a magnitude that can be estimated as the maximum technically possible. From
When there is dry friction between metal and metal, the μ rises to values between 0.1 and 0.15. In most of
In general, the cases of μ are taken as constant; however, some authors argue that it depends on
the sliding speed.

The A.G.M.A. recommends using the following formulas to estimate the μ of a steel screw.
tempered (minimum 58HRC) ground or with a similar finish, working with a crown of
bronze. The choice of formula depends on the sliding speed:

Static condition: Vn = 0 ⟶

Low Speed: Vn < 10 feet / min ⟶

High Speed: Vn > 10 feet/min ⟶