In this episode we're taking a look at how to model worm gears in Fusion360 for 3D printing. You can use these to transfer power between non-intersecting shafts, and with high gear ratios in a compact package. Primary downside is the low efficiency, and the resulting wear and heat buildup.

In this presentation I show worm gears as a rack twisted into a helix, but you can also regard worm gears as simply a very extreme case of crossed helical gears. In such a view you must ensure that the normal modules and pressure angles of the gears match. Steel Stone showed how to do this fully parametrically here:

   • Screw gear, and worm gear, involute a...  

See my other gear videos here:
   • All about gears  

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Additional reading: https://khkgears.net/new/gear_knowled...
https://www.kggear.co.jp/en/wp-conten...

Timestamps:
0:00 Introduction to Worm Gears
0:40 Setting up parameters
1:05 Modelling the helix
2:38 Sketching the tooth profile
3:55 Tooth sweep and finishing worm
5:45 Showing off parametric model
6:21 Setting up helper components
8:35 Modelling the worm wheel
9:52 Computing helix & sweep angle
11:26 Finishing wheel; joints+motion link
13:02 Meshing inspection
14:07 3D printing pointers
14:54 Worm gears are inefficient
15:41 Self-locking worm gears
16:42 Wear in worm gears
17:35 Screw gear approach