The typical arrangement is shown to the left. It consists of a:

•Central Sun (S) Gear with External Teeth

•A Ring (A) Gear with Internal Teeth, with the same center as the Sun Gear

•Revolving Planet (P) Gears that engage with the Sun and Ring Gear

•Planet Carrier (C) in which the Planet Pinions are supported.

Note: The Ring is also called the Annulus. Hence the letter 'A' for 'Annulus' Gear.

The Gear Ratios are a function of the gear - A, S or C - you lock. See YouTube video here: http://youtu.be/hXTzO1UXnLs

There are also possibilities where all three members (A, S or C) rotate. They are called Differential Gears.

Simple Planetary Gear-Trains

There are six drive variations when we keep one gear stationary.

•Variation 1: The Carrier (C) is the Input; the Sun (S) is Stationary; the Output is (A).
Gear Ratio = (ω(1 +1/ω) input turns : 1 output turn)

•Variation 2: The Carrier (C), is the Input; the Annulus (A) is Stationary; the Output is (S).
Gear Ratio = (1/(1+ω) input turns : 1 output turn)

•Variation 3: The Sun (S), is the Input; the Carrier is Stationary (C); the Output is (A).
Gear Ratio = (-ω input turns : 1 output turn)

•Variation 4: The Sun (S), is the Input; the Annulus (A) is Stationary; the Output is (C).
Gear Ratio = (1+ω input turns : 1 output turn)

•Variation 5: The Annulus (A), is the Input; the Carrier (C) is Stationary; the Output is (S).
Gear Ratio = (-1/ω input turns : 1 output turn)

•Variation 6: The Annulus (A); is the Input: the Sun is Stationary (S); the Output is (C).
Gear Ratio = ((1+ω)/ω input turns : 1 output turn)

ω = Number of Sun-Teeth / Number of Annulus-Teeth

Compound Planetary Gear-Trains.

These gear arrangements give different speed ratio options. They will cost more!

When there are three or more planets, as is the usual case, care must be made to make sure the teeth of both planets can engage.

This is a video of the model after I have added Profiles and Extrusions to the Gear-Pairs.

You can also see it on YouTube.

See 'How to Add a Gear-Pair with an Orbiting center'

1.Make the Base-Value of the Motion-Dimension = 60º

2.Number-of-Teeth Gear 1 = 60, Number-of-Teeth Gear 2 =30, External Mesh.

The image shows the:

•Gear 1: Sun Gear - Stationary

•Line-of-centers: Carrier - Driver

•Gear 2: Planet Gear - Rolling around the Sun

Gear-Pair 2

Gear 1

The new Planet

The new Planet is in all respects, an identical copy to Planet Gear (Gear 2) of Gear-Pair 1

•The Planet Gear is a child to a Part that rotates at the same Speed as Gear 2 in Gear-Pair 1

Therefore, when we add Gear-Pair 2, we can select the same Part as Gear 2 in Gear-Pair 1

Line-of-centers

Between the center of the Planet and the center of the Annulus

Conveniently, this is the same Part and Line that is the Line-of-centers of Gear-Pair 1

Gear 2

The Annulus

•It is a new Part. It must have a Line and a Part for the Annulus Gear

•The Line for the Part must radiate from the center of the Sun Gear

From above, we must:

STEP 1: Add a new Part for the Annulus Gear

STEP 2: Join it with a Pin-Joint to the center of the Sun Gear

STEP 3: Add Gear-Pair 2

STEP 4: Edit Gear-Pair 2

STEP 1: Add a Part

Add a Part

STEP 2: Join the new Part to the Sun

a.Select Add Pin-Joint

b.Click the Point at the end of the new Part (the 'Free' Part)

c.Click the Point at the center of the Sun Gear

There are two Points at the center of the Sun Gear

MechDesigner does not know which Point at you want to select - it is 'ambiguous'.

The Select Element dialog-box opens. When the Select Element dialog-box opens, you must select ALL of the elements again.

Because we selected the 'Free' Point first.

•The Free- Point is at the top of the list.

•The second Point is ambiguous.

Which second Point do we select in the Select Elements dialog-box?

The Point MUST be a child to the Sun Gear (Gear 1 of Gear-Pair 1)

If we join the Part to the Base-Part, we will not join it to the Line-of-centers.

We must join it to the Part that is currently the Sun Gear - Part

To 'CTRL + SELECT' the Points:

1. key down

2.Select all Elements you need to complete the command, Point and

3. key up

STEP 3: Add Gear-Pair 2

Select these four elements.

1.The 'Green Line' on Gear Part 1

2.The 'Blue Line' on Gear Part 2

3.The 'Green Line' that Joins the Gear centers

4.The Length Dimension of the Green Line that joins the Gear center (The Part-Editor opens so you can select the length of Part

MechDesigner adds the second Gear-Pair with the default options:

•External Mesh

•Equal number-of-teeth

•Module and Number-of-Teeth to agree with the existing length of the Line-of-centers.

STEP 4: Edit Gear-Pair 2

•Internal Mesh

•Module = 2 (Same as Gear-Pair 1)

•Number-of-Teeth: Gear 1 = 30 (Same as Planetary Gear of Gear-Pair 1)

•Number-of-Teeth: Gear 2 = 120. This is the Annulus.

For information: Gear Ratio: = ω(1 +1/ω)

ω = Ratio of Annulus Teeth / Sun Gear Teeth

See Step 14.4. Make the Base-Value of the Motion-Dimension = 60º

1.Number-of-Teeth Gear 1 = 120, Internal Mesh, Number-of-Teeth Gear 2 =30

The image shows the:

•Gear 1: Annulus Gear - Stationary

•Line-of-centers: Carrier - Driver

•Gear 2: Planet Gear - Rolling inside the Annulus

Gear-Pair 2

Gear 1

Is the new Planet (identical copy to original)

•It must be a child to the Part that rotates at the same Speed as Gear 2 of Gear-Pair 1

•We can make it the same Part as Gear 2 of Gear-Pair 1

Line-of-centers

Is between the center of the Planet and the center of the Annulus

Conveniently, this is the same Part and Line that is the Line-of-centers of Gear-Pair 1

Gear 2

Is the Sun

•It is a new Part. It must have a Line and Part for the Sun Gear

•The new Line must radiate from the center of the Annulus Gear

From the above, we must:

STEP 1: Add a new Part for the Sun Gear

STEP 2: Join it with a Pin-Joint to the center of the Annulus Gear

STEP 3: Add Gear-Pair 2

STEP 4: Edit Gear-Pair 2

STEP 1: Add a Part  

STEP 2: Join it with a Pin-Joint to center of the Sun Gear

a.Select Add Pin-Joint

b.Click the Point at the end of the new Part (the 'Free' Part)

c.Click the Point at the center of the Annulus Gear

There are two Points at the center of the Annulus Gear

MechDesigner does not know which Point at you want to select. It is ambiguous.

The Select Element dialog-box opens.

•The first Point you select is always at the top of the list.

This is why we select a 'Free' Point first. Point is not ambiguous.

•The second Point is ambiguous.

Which second Point do we select in the Select Elements dialog-box?

The Point MUST be a child to the Annulus Gear (Gear 1 of Gear-Pair 1)

If we join the Part to the Base-Part, it will not be joined to the Line-of-centers.

Join it to the Part that is currently the Annulus Gear - Part

To select the Points:

1. key down

2.Select all Elements needed for the command, Points and

3. key up

STEP 3: Add Gear-Pair 2

Select these four elements.

1.The 'Green Line' on Gear Part 1

2.The 'Blue Line' on Gear Part 2

3.The 'Green Line' that Joins the Gear centers

4.The Length Dimension of the Green Line that joins the Gear centers (The Part-Editor opens so you can select the length of Part

MechDesigner adds Gear-Pair 2 with the options:

•External Mesh

•Equal number-of-teeth

•Module and Number-of-Teeth to agree with the length of the Line-of-centers.

STEP 4: Edit Gear-Pair 2

•External Mesh

•Module = 2 (Same as Gear-Pair 1)

•Number-of-Teeth: Gear 1 = 30 (Same as Planetary Gear of Gear-Pair 1)

•Number-of-Teeth: Gear 2 = 60. This is the Annulus.

For information: Gear Ratio: = 1 +1/ω

ω = Ratio of Annulus Teeth / Sun Gear Teeth

This is a video of the model after I have added Profiles and Extrusions to the Gear-Pairs

See Step 14.1. Make the Base-Value of the Motion-Dimension = 60º

1.Number-of-Teeth Gear 1 = 60, Number-of-Teeth Gear 2 =30, External Mesh

The image shows the:

•Gear 1: Sun Gear - Rotates

•Line-of-centers: Carrier - Stationary

•Gear 2: Planet Gear - Turns on its axis as Sun rotates

Gear-Pair 2

Gear 1

Is the new Planet (identical copy to original)

•It must be a child to a Part that rotates at the same Speed as Gear 2 of Gear-Pair 1

•We can make it the same Part as Gear 2 of Gear-Pair 1

Line-of-centers

Is between the center of the Planet and the center of the Annulus

Conveniently, this is the same Part and Line that is the Line-of-centers of Gear-Pair 1

Gear 2

Is the Annulus

•It is a new Part. It must have a Line and Part for the Annulus Gear

•The new Line must radiate from the center of the Sun Gear, and it must be joined to the Base-Part.

From the above, we must:

STEP 1: Add a new Part for the Annulus Gear

STEP 2: Join it with a Pin-Joint to the Base-Part at the center of the Sun

STEP 3: Add Gear-Pair 2

STEP 4: Edit Gear-Pair 2

STEP 1: Add a Part

STEP 2: Join it with a Pin-Joint to center of the Sun Gear

a.Select Add Pin-Joint

b.Click the Point at the end of the new Part (the 'Free' Part)

c.Click the Point at the center of the Sun Gear

There are two Points at the center of the Sun Gear

MechDesigner does not know which Point at you want to select. It is ambiguous.

The Select Element dialog-box opens.

•The first Point you select is always at the top of the list.

This is why we select a 'Free' Point first. Point is not ambiguous.

•The second Point is ambiguous.

Which second Point do we select in the Select Elements dialog-box?

The second Point MUST be a child to the Base-Part

If we join the Part to the Sun Gear, it will not be a child to the Line-of-centers.

We must join it to the Base-Part

To select the Points:

1. key down

2.Select all Elements needed for the command, Point and

3. key down

STEP 3: Add Gear-Pair 2

Select these four elements.

1.The 'Green Line' on Gear Part 1

2.The 'Blue Line' on Gear Part 2

3.The 'Green Line' that Joins the Gear centers

4.The Length Dimension of the Green Line that joins the Gear centers (The Part-Editor opens so you can select the length of Part

The Gear-Pair 2 is added with the default options:

•External Mesh

•Equal number-of-teeth

•Module and Number-of-Teeth to agree with the length of the Line-of-centers.

STEP 4: Edit Gear-Pair 2

•Internal Mesh

•Module = 2 (Same as Gear-Pair 1)

•Number-of-Teeth: Gear 1 = 30 (Same as Planetary Gear of Gear-Pair 1)

•Number-of-Teeth: Gear 2 = 120. This is the Annulus.

For information: Gear Ratio: = -ω

ω = Ratio of Annulus Teeth / Sun Gear Teeth