KHK USA offers an extensive line of metric worm gears

Subsidiary KHK USA Inc. offers an extensive line of metric worm gears manufactured to exacting quality standards by Kohara Gear Industry Co., of Japan. KHK’s large selection of worm gears are quiet and provide smooth transmission of power — and are suitable for myriad applications in which a large speed reduction is required in a compact space.

KHK worm gear pairs come in many modules, numbers of teeth, and reduction ratios.

Available materials for worms abound:

KHK S45C carbon-steel worm gears excel in general-purpose machinery and industrial speed reducers with good wear resistance. Induction-hardened versions deliver higher load capacity.

KHK SCM415 chromalloy steel worm gears are used in duplex worm assemblies. Carburizing heat treatment imparts hardness for use in high-accuracy systems.

KHK SUS303 stainless-steel worm gears are reliable in the corrosive settings of food processing and pharmaceutical production subject to washdown to prevent contamination.

KHK worm wheels also come in different materials:

KHK FC200 cast-iron worm wheels are for light-duty or low-speed applications (such as manual adjustment mechanisms and economical positioning systems).

KHK worm wheels of nonferrous phosphor bronze are an industry standard for conveyors and other material-handling equipment (along with other equipment needing speed reducers) as the wheels resist wear and have self-lubricating properties (plus ideal friction characteristics when paired with hardened-steel worms).

KHK worm wheels of aluminum bronze are used in heavy-duty applications such as hoists, elevators, and high-torque gearboxes with high load capacity and wear resistance compared to standard phosphor bronze.

KHK worm wheels of engineered self-lubricating plastics such as MC901 nylon deliver quiet operation in pharmaceutical, food processing, and office equipment that can’t tolerate metal-to-metal contact but lubricant contamination is prohibited.

All KHK worm wheels and most of the worms can be customized to application specifics. For example, they can be specified with various bores, added keyways, and tapped holes. Engineers can also request versions with reduced hub diameters or modified shaft diameters.

KHK USA stocks products that already include many of these features.

Duplex worm-and-wheel sets are another KHK offering. These have a dual-lead worms having flanks with slightly different modules. The worm’s variable pitch renders it positionable so all backlash between the pair is eliminated when the worm is axially moved.

For more information, visit khkgears.us/products/worm-gear-pair.