Very new to CAD, just started learning the basics on Freecad a couple weeks ago. I was able to come up with a straight cut gears design for Apex Jump Drives but am not sure if there are any preferred/ trusted manufacturers for making a test batch. Need to increase the bore diameter on the motor pinion but other than that everything should work.
Mod is .8. (Edit, Mod is 1.08, not .8). That seems to be what Apex used for their helicals. I’m not an engineer so if something is horribly wrong with this design please let me know. Want the test batch made with chromoly steel.
I would normally use Shapeways for this kind of thing, but my gut tells me you might want someone to actually machine these, rather than 3d print them. If you’re in the US, pick a location near a US Naval base, and call up manufacturers in the nearby area. They tend to clump together near bases.
Yeah definitely want them CNCd. Several bases near by so I’ll try to get some local quotes. Just wondering if there are any trusted go-to machine shops that people on here like to use.
Checked them out, metal selection doesn’t include chromoly steel. Maybe some of the other metals would be suitable but I’m not sure with the small teeth on these. Will have to do some research.
@Evwan produced a batch of jump drive straight cuts. You might be better served buying a set of them. Making high quality gears is not trivial, a click-and-ship service might not be well suited for that.
Bro. At first check your 3D. For example thickness of keyway have standard width, assuming it will be 3mm. Next point is that gears need to have correct shape and modul. And finally we are still in the days, when You need drawing (blueprint) for production. Becouse on drawing are all info missing in 3D. Like roughness, dimensional and geometrical tolerances etc. Best way for You is to find on YouTube some tutorial how to develop gear. As I mentioned, send me Your data and I can make a check for You bro . Or need to find some experinced producer and they will produce it based on original part You have. But then You will miss that learning process.
Facko, thanks for chiming in. I actually made the keyway width 3.1 because the key wouldn’t fit in 3. Probably just my 3d printer though. Gears are Mod .8 and seem to mesh well but I’ll share the files. This whole process has been youtube and the FreeCad gear add on . I’m here to learn so feel free to rip this apart. STL files attached. I can PM you a different format if you want.
Edit - the bore diameter has been slightly increased on the motor pinion on this file as mentioned in the original post. This is the final variant I have come up with.
JLCCNC looks like a good option for aluminum parts. This is turning into a pretty good list for companies that have been used successfully by people on the forum. Hopefully some more will be added.
. Or need to find some experinced producer and they will produce it based on original part You have. But then You will miss that learning process.
. I’m here to learn so feel free to rip this apart. STL files attached. I can PM you a different format if you want.
