Calculation of helical gear’s basic parameters using COP-data acquired by optical 3D digitizer

Abstract: Gears are industrial components with a precise geometry. Identification of their basic parameters plays an important role in their reverse design and quality control process. This article describes a new approach for the calculation of helical gear’s basic parameters using optical data acquired by 3D digitizer. This approach is implemented by acquiring cloud-of-points data (COP-data) from the bearing seats and gear tooth surface. Cylinder surface fitting through COP-data acquired from bearing seats is performed for the determination of gear axis of rotation. In a final step, involute helicoid surface fitting through COP-data acquired from gear tooth surface determines the helical gear’s primary features. Particle swarm optimization algo-rithm as an efficient method is applied to perform the surface fitting process in this article