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5. Helical Gears

January 10, 2019, Helical Gears  The parts I have designed and created on Autocad are known as Helical gears which are used in transmissions, high torque operations, and continuous use components. These gears over the general Spur gears are they almost always create contact with another tooth and causes the gear to slip less and support more torque and forces. The gears could be implemented in scissor lifts, Arc lifts, 2-bar lifts, 4-bar lifts, winches, claws, shooters, drivetrains, and so on. The gears would be in a pair, one left twist angle and one right twist angle. The parts designed are 12-tooth gear and I have made one 36-tooth gear. I saw this problem of gears losing traction from Arc lifts primarily, but also others. The teeth of a general Spur gear once one tooth loses pressure and contacts, it then causes the next gear tooth to have to support all the torque from the drive gear and causes the whole gear to slip which then causes the gears to grind and wear down. By having these gears that have a twist lowers the chance of this and creates a more reliable robot and reduces the time needed fixing the robot and lowers the number of gears stripped or ground down. To create the gear I used Fusion 360 with update 2.0.5103 on my school’s MacBook Air. I took the step files from the Vex EDR website and used the 12-tooth gear and took away material to where it was just a small profile of the gear and then creating a sketch of a line going through the center of the gear. I then used sweep to extrude to the width and then used twist angle to twist to cause an offset of gears to the third tooth. I then extruded it to equal the other side and then so it won’t push along the axle. The same can be done to almost all gears. Through our HS club, some of the students in the club filled out a survey I made and these gears were one of the top selections. Other ones were adjustable slip gear, Cortex, and motor fan and wire harness. The problems with these are with the capability with the new V5 system is these except the slip gear won’t really be needed as of 01/09/2019, but possibly later may be needed. I learned through designing this part and other parts that almost anything and everything can or is made on 3D software such as Autocad. I am currently a Senior and will be going to my local tech college which is Saint Cloud Technical Community College “SCTCC”, I will be pursuing Broad Engineering AAS. Then taking the AAS degree and transfer to a 4-year, most likely Saint Cloud State University “SCSU” and taking a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering and later hopefully doing a Computer-Aided Mechanical Design Certificate. I’ve used AutoCAD 360 for 2 years now, then as well  7th grade and freshman year I used Inventor and 3D printed parts. I’ve made it to MN state tournament 4-years in a row and U.S. open 2-year in a row but Worlds would just complete my Vex experience. I will be doing Vex U and I want to learn as much as possible in not only AutoCAD type software but also all aspects of engineering. I have my own drafting table, drafting tools and templates that my dad had in high school. Through earning my Eagle Scout rank I have learned so much and through teachers at school it been amazing, and hard with my ADHD and Juvenile Arthritis, but I love everything that has happened and I’m looking forward to what is to come. My dream job is to work for companies like Delta, NASA, Lockheed Martin, and GM. The main reason why I want to become an engineer is to make things to help the world and know I am making a difference. Thank you for this opportunity to show a part out of many things I have made and learned and the opportunity to possibly win a Worlds invite. Thank You Thomas J. Wilfong