CALCULATE RACK AND PINION: IMPORTANT DEFINITIONS

To make it clear we give you some important definitions:

Tangential force or feed force.

This is the force [in N] needed to deliver the linear movement profile.

Torque.

This is what the pinion sees and is simply tangential force * arm (radius pinion) [in Nm]. In this case
F2T = 2 * T2B / d.

Safety factor.

Apex recommends a safety factor of at least 2 for horizontal and 3 for vertical drives.

Friction coefficient.

How heavy – or light – does the system run? A widely used value is 0.1 or 0.15.

External forces.

For example: is the system used to push products? Then this force should be added to the tangential
force.

POINTS OF ATTENTION FOR THE SELECTION OF RACK AND PINION

Sometimes we confuse matters or we have assumptions that are not entirely correct. This makes it
only harder to calculate the rack and pinion. Therefore keep the following in mind:

A pinion of about 20 teeth is mathematically the optimum in terms of tangential force and system
backlash. A larger pinion provides more backlash, a smaller pinion can transmit lower torques and
has a higher wear.

A larger module does NOT have to mean that the tangential force is higher! A rack module 2 in
quality 5 can transmit a higher tangential force than module 3 in quality 8!

The quality of a rack is not only the deviation per meter, but also the treatment and hardness. For
example, quality 8 has a better price than quality 10!

Backlash is caused by the interaction of ALL components. It makes no sense to take a very-low-
backlash gearbox with, for example, a larger pinion or a lower quality rack.

The tolerances of the racks and pinions are NOT standardized, in practice we often see deviations.
For example, by giving the total deviation per 300 mm instead of per 1000 mm. The first 12 pages of
our catalog are about the tolerances of OUR products, how we have defined them and what the
value is. From linear deviation to hardness and straightness, ALL tolerances can be found.

For a silent and low-backlash drive with a long service life, it is recommended to use a pinion and
rack from 1 supplier. The tolerances, especially with helical teeth, are very important!

CALCULATE RACK AND PINION: CALCULATION TOOL

With the table below you can perform the calculations:

Application Horizontal movement Vertical movement

Unit Application settings

Total weight load m kg kg

Speed v m/s m/s

Time acceleration ta s s

Gravity g /s2 /s2

Friction coefficient µ – –

Pitch circle pinion d mm mm

Other forces F N N

Safety factor SB – –

Formulas

∝ = V / t∝ (m/s2) ∝ = V / t∝ (m/s2)

Tangential force FN FN = M * g * µ + M * a + F (N) FN = M * g * µ + M * a + F

(N)

Torque TN TN = (FN * d) / 2000 (Nm) TN = (FN * d) / 2000 (Nm)

Design torque TNV TNV = TN * SB (Nm) TNV = TN * SB (Nm)

Max. speed pinion NV NV = (V * 19100) / d (rpm) NV = (V * 19100) / d (rpm)

The tables can be found in our catalog, after the pinions sector, here the F2T and T2B are given for
the different pinions and racks. Based on this and the servomotor specifications you can calculate
the gearbox.

Because the rack and pinion is often trial-and-error, we like to take these calculations out off your
hands. When we receive the correct application information, our customers – often within and day –
receive a calculation sheet, quotation and STP drawings of all items: rack, pinion and gearbox.

This sheet is the basis for the choosen components and can be part of the technical construction file.
We can also give an indication for the backlash of the system, so that it can be even optimized.

So if you have a need for rack drive system or if you want to have the application calculated again,
please contact us for the best advice, competitive quotation and excellent delivery times!
Apex Dynamics supplies racks in class 4 to 10, module 1 to 12 and from 500 to 2000 mm long.
Pinions are standard in quality 4 or 5 and all hardened and ground. And with 49 series of gearboxes
we can always supply a suitable gearbox in the right ratio.

CALCULATE RACK AND PINION: IMPORTANT

DEFINITIONS
To make it clear we give you some important definitions:

 Tangential force or feed force.

This is the force [in N] needed to deliver the linear movement profile.
 Torque.
This is what the pinion sees and is simply tangential force * arm
(radius pinion) [in Nm]. In this case F2T = 2 * T2B / d.
 Safety factor.
Apex recommends a safety factor of at least 2 for horizontal and 3 for
vertical drives.
 Friction coefficient.
How heavy – or light – does the system run? A widely used value is
0.1 or 0.15.
 External forces.
For example: is the system used to push products? Then this force
should be added to the tangential force.
POINTS OF ATTENTION FOR THE SELECTION
OF RACK AND PINION

Sometimes we confuse matters or we have

assumptions that are not entirely correct. This makes it only harder to
calculate the rack and pinion. Therefore keep the following in mind:

 A pinion of about 20 teeth is mathematically the optimum in terms of

tangential force and system backlash. A larger pinion provides more
backlash, a smaller pinion can transmit lower torques and has a higher
wear.
 A larger module does NOT have to mean that the tangential force is
higher! A rack module 2 in quality 5 can transmit a higher tangential
force than module 3 in quality 8!
 The quality of a rack is not only the deviation per meter, but also the
treatment and hardness. For example, quality 8 has a better price than
quality 10!
 Backlash is caused by the interaction of ALL components. It makes no
sense to take a very-low-backlash gearbox with, for example, a larger
pinion or a lower quality rack.
 The tolerances of the racks and pinions are NOT standardized, in
practice we often see deviations. For example, by giving the total
deviation per 300 mm instead of per 1000 mm. The first 12 pages of
our catalog are about the tolerances of OUR products, how we have
defined them and what the value is. From linear deviation to hardness
and straightness, ALL tolerances can be found.
 For a silent and low-backlash drive with a long service life, it is
recommended to use a pinion and rack from 1 supplier. The tolerances,
especially with helical teeth, are very important!

CALCULATE RACK AND PINION:

CALCULATION TOOL
With the table below you can perform the calculations:
Application Horizontal movement Vertical movement
Unit Application settings
Total weight load m kg kg
Speed v m/s m/s
Time acceleration ta s s
Gravity g /s2 /s2
Friction coefficient µ – –
Pitch circle pinion d mm mm
Other forces F N N
Safety factor SB – –
Formulas
∝ = V / t∝ (m/s2) ∝ = V / t∝ (m/s2)
Tangential force FN FN = M * g * µ + M * a + F (N) FN = M * g * µ + M * a + F (N)
Torque TN TN = (FN * d) / 2000 (Nm) TN = (FN * d) / 2000 (Nm)
Design torque TNV TNV = TN * SB (Nm) TNV = TN * SB (Nm)
Max. speed pinion NV NV = (V * 19100) / d (rpm) NV = (V * 19100) / d (rpm)
The tables can be found in our catalog, after the pinions sector, here the
F2T and T2B are given for the different pinions and racks. Based on this and the
servomotor specifications you can calculate the gearbox.

Because the rack and pinion is often trial-and-error, we like to take these
calculations out off your hands. When we receive the correct application
information, our customers – often within and day – receive a
calculation sheet, quotation and STP drawings of all items: rack, pinion
and gearbox.

This sheet is the basis for the choosen components and can be part of the
technical construction file. We can also give an indication for the backlash of
the system, so that it can be even optimized.

So if you have a need for rack drive system or if you want to have the
application calculated again, please contact us for the best advice,
competitive quotation and excellent delivery times!

Apex Dynamics supplies racks in class 4 to 10, module 1 to 12 and from 500
to 2000 mm long. Pinions are standard in quality 4 or 5 and all hardened and
ground. And with 49 series of gearboxes we can always supply a suitable
gearbox in the right ratio.