More specifically, this tutorial will cover: In this tutorial, I’ll walk you through the process in SolidWorks (2017 version used for this tutorial), and you can use a similar system for any other program, such as creating an involute gear in AutoCad.

Involute gears are so popular because both gears will rotate at a consistent speed while the teeth are engaged, resulting in a smaller chance of vibration, noise, and wear during use. The smaller the circle it is drawn from, the more curved the involute is. As a quick refresher, an involute is a curve which is formed when a point on a cord is unwound from a circle, meaning an involute is a form of spiral which becomes straighter as it is drawn from the circle and eventually becomes a straight line.

Check out this article for a refresher on involute gear geometry and nomenclature. What to do about the fact that most CAD programs don’t have a “create involute gears” button? Welp, you’ll have to create these geometries manually. You can choose to 3D print or CNC machine involute gears for simple and reliable incorporation in your robot design. Say you’re 3D printing a robot, and you’re designing a sweet gearing system to make your robot move smoothly.