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MJ
Md Jony Islam
Last updated: Jun 14, 2026

Spur Gear Design Calculator

Design spur gears by calculating gear ratio, number of teeth, pitch circle diameter, module, and center distance. Step-by-step formulas included.

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Spur Gear Design Calculator

Design spur gears by calculating gear ratio, number of teeth, pitch circle diameter, module, and center distance. Step-by-step formulas included.

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spur gear design calculator

This Spur Gear Design Calculator is used to solve the ratio of gears, their number of teeth, module, pitch circle diameter, and center distance. The relations of gears are explained with the help of the enter pinion or gear specifications and step-by-step calculations to design an appropriate power transmission.

Spur Gear Design Tool Formula:

Module (m):

\[ m = \frac{P_{d}}{N} \]

(where m = module, Pd = pitch diameter, N = number of teeth)

Pitch Diameter (Pd):

\[ P_{d} = m \times N \]

Outside Diameter (Od):

\[ O_{d} = (N + 2) \times m \]

Addendum (a):

\[ a = m \]

Dedendum (d):

\[ d = 1.25 \times m \]

The Spur Gear Design Calculator is a software that enables engineers, students, and teachers to design spur gears to be used in the transmission of power in mechanical systems. Spur gears are mass-produced gearboxes, machinery, and robotics to provide motion and torque between parallel shafts in a cost-effective manner.

The desired module, number of teeth, gear ratio, or pitch circle diameter (PCD) may be typed in by the user. The calculator calculates the gear ratio, number of teeth on the pinion and gear, module, pitch circle diameter, and the center distance. Sequential step-by-step solutions demonstrate the formulas for calculating velocity ratio, module, and calculating PCD, and it is easy to know how the gears relate to one another and to optimise the gear design in terms of torque and speed.

SI units are not excluded: mm in diameters, module, and center distance. This is a tool that would be applicable to mechanical engineers, design engineers, students, and educators involved in the design of gears, speed reduction, or transferring torque through mechanical systems, to design them correctly and efficiently.

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⚡ Work & Installation Input to Output:

Input:

  • Pinion teeth (z1) or Gear teeth (z2)
  • Module (m) or pitch circle diameter (PCD)
  • Desired gear ratio (i = z2 / z1)
  • Optional: center distance (a)
  • Units: mm

Processing:

  • Compute missing number of teeth using gear ratio: z2 = i × z1
  • Compute pitch circle diameter: PCD = m × z
  • Compute center distance: a = (PCD1 + PCD2) / 2
  • Check for standard module values
  • Optional: compute velocity ratio and RPM based on input speeds

Output:

  • Pinion and gear teeth
  • Module (m)
  • Pitch circle diameters (PCD)
  • Center distance between shafts
  • Step-by-step formulas and calculations
  • Optional gear speed and torque ratio

Testing and Final Adjustments

Test common scenarios:

  • Pinion z1 = 20 teeth, gear ratio i = 3 → compute z2, PCD, and center distance
  • Gear module m = 5 mm, z1 = 15 → compute PCD and gear z2 for desired ratio
  • Check edge cases: very high gear ratios, standard module compatibility
  • Units validation: mm for module, PCD, and center distance
  • Step-by-step clarity for students and engineers
  • Mobile/desktop UX: numeric keypad, labels, error messages
  • Include standard gear tables for reference
  • SEO metadata: "Spur Gear Design Calculator," "Gear Ratio Calculator," "Module Calculation," schema markup
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Frequently Asked Questions - Spur Gear Design Calculator:

A spur gear is a cylindrical gear with straight teeth mounted on parallel shafts for power transmission.
Gear ratio i = z2 / z1, where z1 is pinion teeth and z2 is gear teeth.
Module m = PCD / z, the ratio of pitch circle diameter to number of teeth, representing gear size.
PCD = module × number of teeth, measured in mm.
Center distance a = (PCD1 + PCD2) / 2 for two meshing gears.
Yes, it computes missing teeth, PCD, and center distance for pinion and gear pairs.
All lengths in millimeters (mm).
Yes, the calculator can verify compatibility with standard module sizes.
Mechanical engineers, design engineers, students, and educators designing spur gears.
Gear ratio determines the speed and torque transmitted between shafts, critical for mechanical systems design.
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