The deviation of the output gear's angular position from the ideal position given by the ratio, usually expressed as a linear distance along the line of action in microns. It comes from tooth errors, deflection under load and profile modifications, and it repeats at mesh frequency. Transmission error is the main excitation behind gear whine, so quiet gears are designed for low peak-to-peak transmission error at their working load.
Peak-to-peak transmission error is down to a micron and a half at rated torque, the whine should be gone.
Also heard as
- TE
- loaded transmission error
Related terms
Whine
A steady, pitch-changing tonal noise from gears, rising with speed and caused by tooth meshing errors.
Single-flank test
Running a gear against a master at fixed center distance and measuring rotational error on one flank only.
Tip relief
A slight removal of material near the tooth tip so each tooth enters mesh smoothly under load.
GMF
Gear mesh frequency: tooth count times shaft speed, the frequency at which teeth enter mesh.