A composite test in which the work gear and a master or mating gear run at their working center distance with backlash, flank to flank, while encoders on both shafts record transmission error. It measures what the mesh actually does in service, separating left and right flanks, and is the preferred check for gear noise. The equipment is more expensive and slower than double-flank testing.
Single-flank test shows TE peaking on the coast flank only, that matches the decel whine the customer's hearing.
Also heard as
- single-flank composite test
- transmission error test
Do not mix it up with
- Double-flank test: The double-flank test runs tight with no backlash and mixes both flanks, reporting center distance change rather than motion error.
Related terms
Transmission error
The tiny difference between where the output gear actually is and where a perfect gear pair would put it.
Double-flank test
Rolling a gear in tight mesh against a master gear and recording how the center distance varies.
Whine
A steady, pitch-changing tonal noise from gears, rising with speed and caused by tooth meshing errors.