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Manual / Draw

Gear - Spur gear generator

Create a closed involute spur gear profile, ready to use for DXF or G-code.

What it does

The Gear Generator creates an involute spur gear as a single closed shape. You can cut it directly with a laser or CNC machine.

Where to find it

  • Ribbon: Draw › Block › Gear

2D Gear Generator dialog (Spur Gear)
2D Gear Generator dialog (Spur Gear)

Steps

  1. Click Draw › Block › Gear.
  2. Enter the values. The preview and the calculated diameters update as you type.
  3. Click OK. The gear is placed at the Center X/Y you set.

Options

Option Meaning
Number of Teeth The number of teeth.
Module (size) The module in mm. It sets the tooth size.
Bore diameter (0 = none) The shaft hole. 0 = no hole.
Pressure Angle The pressure angle (normally 20°).
Center X / Center Y The position of the gear centre.
Pitch diameter / Outside diameter Calculated values (Pitch = Module × number of teeth).
Closed contour points The number of points in the closed contour.

Try it: Gear-shaped sign for a bike workshop

A hanging shop sign shaped like a gear, about half a metre across. Because the gear is one closed outline, you can send it straight to a laser cutter or CNC router.

  1. Click Draw › Block › Gear.
  2. Enter Number of Teeth 16, Module 30, Bore diameter 0, Pressure Angle 20, Center X 0 and Center Y 0, then click OK. The pitch diameter is 480 mm and the outside diameter 540 mm.
  3. Inner ring: C 0,0 with radius 170.
  4. Two holes for the hanging chain: C -90,120 radius 8 and C 90,120 radius 8.
  5. Type TEXT, set the height to 50, click in the middle of the ring and type BIKE FIX.

16-tooth gear sign with the text BIKE FIX
16-tooth gear sign with the text BIKE FIX

Challenge: Set Bore diameter to 200 instead of drawing a circle. You get an open centre for an acrylic logo insert.

See also