Thread: 90 tooth gear

I am contemplating making a worm to mesh with Hercus gears (18 DP). I have been studying Ivan Law's book "Gears and Gear Cutting," and I have worked out that I need two 20 tooth gears, a 30 tooth gear, and a 90 tooth gear - to get the correct worm pitch. The first three I either have or can make from some disc brake rotors I have. They are really nice, and easy to machine - like cast iron, but I think they are probably a cast steel. For the 90 tooth gear I was considering making it from some marine grade aluminium (as I have a quantity of 10mm thick plate) or brass. 90 tooth gears are 5.111" OD, and I have this piece of round brass bar that is waiting to be transformed!

I could make the gear from steel plate, but it occurred to me that brass or aluminium would be easier to machine, and would not blunt the involute cutters I have - as quickly as steel.

The proposed 90 tooth gear won't get too much use - probably only once - unless I wreck the worm, and have to make a second one, or maybe a third one .... so I think either the brass or aluminium would be more than adequate for the job.

Has anyone made gears from aluminium or brass?

Yes.

Also yes.