Learn Fusion 360 or Die Trying LESSON 9: Design Helical Gears for 3D Printing

You guys can help me out over at Patreon, and that will keep this high quality content coming:
/ paulmcwhorter
In this tutorial we learn how to make helical involute helical gears. We take you through it step by step and then print on a 3D printer. This lesson will produce a neat little fidget toy, and you will learn how to make gears for your projects
Learn more at our toptechboy.com WEB site:
www.toptechboy.com/arduino/lea...

[@JessPatton]

I discovered this while working through this video. When you move a component, there is a checkbox to "capture position", if you check that before hitting okay on the move, it will go ahead and capture the position during the move, rather than prompting you later. If anyone sees this, I would also read Tim Graves comment, it may be worth looking more into how the timeline works in fusion 360.

[@petergill819]

I've been struggling to make the move from SketchUp to Fusion 360, but with these wonderful videos I've finally made it. I think what makes the difference is that, as well as understanding Fusion 360, you also know how to teach. I know you sometimes wonder if the pace is too slow. Don't change a thing! Repetition and review are absolutely key to effective learning. I love the way you just keep calm and carry on when things don't go quite right. I'm fed up of slick presentations where everything works perfectly first time. Learning how to correct errors is a really important part of building new skills, and you teach that as well. Thanks very much!

[@davids629]

Two things to make it easer. 1) When you create the gear, underneath the preview check-box is "Gear Parameters". Expand that out and it has the inner (root) and outer (outside) parameters listed. 2) When you move the component at the bottom of the move menu underneath the target selections is a check-box "Capture Position" which stops the silliness of it moving around when sketch editing is turned on and off.

[@gmyort]

I've now watched Lessons 1-9 and have learned a ton. These lesson projects are so much fun! I am also an electrical engineer but just love 3D modeling and 3D printing my own creations. My mechanical engineers are probably getting sick of me telling them of my new home hobby...something they do all day every day at work. Thank you Paul!

[@BrianVillegas67]

Helical gear teeth mesh more smoothly, and therefore more quietly than straight-cut gears. As you remark, helical gears also have a "thrust side" which is a serious factor in transmission housing design. Trucks and racecars generally use straight-cut gears because the thrust/side loads are very high and the transmission housings would have to also be massive and heavy. Straight-cut gears are nearly as strong as helicals, but can be very noisy. Passenger cars typically use helicals to cut down on noise. Herringbone gears balance out the thrust side, but are very troublesome and expensive to make with conventional tooling. Herringbone tooth patterns are childsplay for additive manufacturing. I trust we'll see more herringbone gears as additive manufacturing gets stronger and stronger. Another good video, Thanks!

[@robertulmer875]

Paul, I cannot stress to you enough the value of your lessons. As I have explained before I have taken MANY CAD and Fusion Courses from various colleges, none have made this as understandable as you. Sure, I know all kinds of shortcuts and what not but, without understanding the basics they are useless. More importantly your teaching style is the bridge between artists and mechanical engineers. I believe there is an inventor in every artist. These videos can help turn artists into makers.. I am a member of several tattoo artists groups and I will be posting links to your videos. With your lessons and crowd funding who knows what we can develop. Big thanks and loads of respect sir. Keep up the good work!

[@robertulmer875]

I am also currently taking an online Electronics Technology course from Penn Foster so I am going to be watching your electronics videos next. I am brushing up on fusion 360 for some prototyping I am doing for a project/business I am working on launching at the moment. Hoping your electronics videos are as awesome for somebody who is not a "mathlete" as this set of videos.

[@martynwimpenny2017]

Just spent 4 hours going through your lectures - I'm up to three! on Fusion 360 - how wonderful it is to have a great teacher, teaching! Love these and your style and approach is excellent. Really enjoying getting back uptodate on CAD/CAM my AnyCubic i3 Mega s is expected soon! Autocad has changed a lot in the last 25 years or so - amazingly good. Please keep up the good work - nice to see a teacher, not just a trainer! I thoroughly recommend this guy - well done Sir!

[@KenKeiscome]

As always, I am truly enjoying learning about Fusion 360 from you. You aren't talking to empty space as far as I am concerned. I think the speed you are going is perfect, at least for me. When things don't go the way you expected, I learn by figuring out different ways to do the same thing. I don't always follow every step you make which is why I know I am learning from you. Keep up the good work. I appreciate all your effort and the time you put into making these videos.

[@alejandroperez5368]

It's bad practice to extrude an object to create a hole on another object by just dragging all the way up or down and keep dragging a little more, as if you were giving it a little margin. It's best to change the setting extent from 'distance' to 'to object' (on the extrude panel) and then select the outter face of the object where the extrusion needs to stop. That way, if you change dimensions in the future, the hole is always going to be there.

[@1607rosie]

Very good point Alejandro.

[@zaqk2]

That was very helpful mate

[@MichaelR1975]

thx for the tip

[@oneinabillion654]

Thanks

[@billmoseley4042]

Hi Paul I have been trying to learn Fusion 360 for a year and you are helping me a lot, THANK YOU

[@charlesbrewer6552]

HI Paul, just wanted to thank you again for this series. I started last year and have been away from it for a while. But i have got some time and a desire to carry on with it and have been making great progress with your help. Much appreciated.

[@123kkambiz]

Everything was fantastic. thanks for your valuable time for making the video and uploading it.

[@martyleach2677]

Thanks Paul for these tutorials. I have fought Fusion 360 for over a year and have been successful but have wasted so much time. Your videos really helps.

[@TheLoveAmbassadors]

Paul, everyday you are blowing my mind! I love it when you make mistakes, because you are helping me understand what mistakes I am making, why and most most of all, how to fix it. Can't recommend your videos more. Every time I am about to give up fusion 360, you virtually hold my hand and get me to the next level. I feel like I am playing a geometry video game. thank you sir!

[@mikeballmball]

Paul, great videos. Your teaching style has really helped a filthy casual like me understand how to use this tool!

[@billfield8300]

Another great lesson. You are including a lot of things I have not found in other F360 tutorials. Thanks.

[@edhamacek2469]

Another great video, clear instructions and easy to follow. Looking forward to the next one.

[@sebastiangregoroff3370]

Two months ago, I started to learn fusion 360 and I quit. A few days ago I Saw your fusion video series , now I'm feeling like a fusion pro . Thank you very much for your time !. You sir, are an excellent teacher. Greetings from Argentina.

[@drzwithcrow6075]

Heck man, you really get the creative juices flowing!!!

[@mikelsanfelix5722]

well done paul, i am learning a lot with this courses, congrats

[@raananbodzin1853]

Great instructions, thanks for the wonderful step by step.

[@sadqazaria4167]

Excellent presentation, clear and totally enjoyable! Thank you Sir!

[@deonholt]

Again, as usual, a super tutorial. Thank you so much.

[@aloysiussnailchaser272]

Great stuff as usual. You do an excellent job of projecting yourself into my space (sounds a bit hippy, but you know what I mean). It’s a great skill to really be able to make the camera disappear.

[@MehrdadGivehchi]

Great video Paul. Many thanks and I love the BOOMs:)

[@timgraves9893]

By the way, Paul, you know how you hate how F360 turns off the sketch after your first extrusion? I did too. Watching Lars Christensen video, he mentioned there is a new preference to NOT turn them off. Check Preferences/General/Design/"Auto hide sketch on feature creation" and turn that check box off. Ta-dah!

[@goofyinestherville]

Boom

[@aloysiussnailchaser272]

¡Boom boom!

[@kwissiekwissie]

I watched hundereds of hours of lars his videos but did missed this tip. Thanks for pointing it out!!! (ohja, and also a #Boom reaction from me)

[@philnewman1110]

One word Paul, Wow! Amazing and i do believe i could actually design and make this albeit this is not what i started watching this series for, i have a specific idea in mind but i am learning all the time and hopefully i will be able to master this in time. Super video as always delivered at a good learning speed, thank you very much Paul!

[@garethcuff2505]

Great Video, appreciate the explanations around fusion 360 as i'm new to using the software and following along was easy and learnt more about the software.

[@billkellogg1403]

You're such a great instructor! There must be hundreds of us out here. I wish I could meet you and talk tech.

[@bigswolejah]

You are a great teacher. Keep it up

[@DanielRiveira]

Thank's Paul (from spain). You explain everything in a simple and understandable way. I like the way you talk ... BOOM !!! ;-) ;-) ;-)

[@elijahewi]

am a Solidworks user and slowly migrating to fusion, I find your tutorials very helpful. Keep it up

[@kotian9]

is there a specific reason

[@tubelife70]

You know what I'm gonna do? I'm gonna loose my mind with you constantly repeating: What am I gonna do! But that said I am very glad you made this video. It was a big help! And you know what I'm a gonna do? I'm gonna subscribe. Thanks!

[@superkillr]

I don't even need to watch these to give them thumbs up. Your series is awesome

[@Mark-vm9bp]

BOOM! thanks for another great lesson.

[@newalla344]

In the new interface I found the add-in under TOOLS, hope this will help anyone looking for add in with the new face. Thanks again Paul for all the time you have given us.

[@barryricketts9545]

I try to learn the basics for years on the free option of fusion 360, i have watched several tutorials over the years on youtube but noon compares to the ease of your learning tutorials. it should be mandatory that everyone watch your videos first before looking at any others.- your tutorials are well received and appreciated. - thank you, Paul, you made it easier for me learn Fusion 360 and I love this program.....

[@paulmcwhorter]

I am glad to hear my videos were helpful. I am not nearly the expert that many of the others are, but maybe that helps me understand what it is like to try and learn this software. I have enjoyed learning it, and really like using it with a 3D printer. Thank you for the kind words.

[@brianm5684]

You are amazing! The perfect teacher

[@hex1101]

Great series im going to have to go through all of it. Ty

[@jhgpsimons]

I had to restart F360 for the helical gear to show up

[@silkiewhisperer]

When extruding components (IE. the holes in the gears), try extruding "to object" and selecting the opposite side of the gear. Dragging it out into space may cause you problems down the track if you ever wish to change the dimensions. I understand it's not really necessary for this particular design due to it's simplicity but it's a good habit to get into. Great tutorial series!

[@noweare1]

I do try to experiment when I am going through your awesome videos and find out that darn, there are a lot of settings and I have got myself in trouble but have learned to get my out of trouble also. Thank you for all your hard work.

[@randallpifer5864]

I am new to Fusion 360 and I am really enjoying your videos. I had seen a couple done by other folks but I really like your teaching method and the way you have progressed, beginning with the basics and building on them in the next video. One thing I might suggest is that you close the data panel on the left of the screen to give you a larger sketching/modeling surface.

[@juggalizzle75]

I've learned so much from this series. I'm hoping later in the series you cover cylinders with different diameters. Such as say a travel coffee cup that steps to a larger diameter towards the top.

[@codyphillips6737]

Excellent job!

[@ernestasvaikasas6528]

Thank you, this was a useful lesson.

[@timgraves9893]

The reason that your components keep moving back to the original location is because you're editing the original sketch, and that's where they were when that sketch was created. It's all down in the timeline. As I said in a comment over in lesson 6 (I think it was there) you would do yourself some good learning to bone up on the timeline. It's super useful and explains some of the "oddness" of what you're seeing. (Remember in the beginning lessons how you said F360 can be confusing because object won't move or they react funny and it's because we haven't learned how to deal with constraints? This is the same idea: you're seeing funny things because you haven't dug into the timeline and it's capabilities yet. :-) ) By the way, not criticizing at all. I've been learning a lot with you, but I did do some other tutorials that have covered other things that you haven't touched on yet, and one of those is the timeline, so I thought I'd share and maybe you turn that into a video for folks. :-)

[@rogerdekumbis4199]

Excellent comment!

[@Damjanhd]

that didn't happend to me and I do exactly the same he did!

[@donmcdonald4347]

I don't see how the Timeline helps in this case. It shows all the separate parts of the component as entries in the timeline each time a gear is made. There is no spot that I can see that allows editing the entire gear, the timeline only shows parts of it. It seems editing the sketch in the Browser is the only way to actually edit the entire gear. The gears both seem to have to be created at the origin since you are not given any choice about location. So creating them at the origin and moving them away seems the only option to make multiple gears. It is weird that you have to draw your edits at the place where the gear will be. It's also weird that even though you have two gears there is still only one sketch, and when you edit that sketch you only see the one big gear.

[@river2000sg2]

Thank you Sir, I am learning a lot from your tutorial.

[@paulmcwhorter]

I am glad you are sticking with them. Good luck as you learn!

[@FabrizioOmarini]

thanks a lot, i had started with the tutorial on fusion360 site but were quite difficult to start with. i really like your explanation.

[@paulmcwhorter]

Glad you are finding them helpful

[@c00p3rm4n]

Thank you for the video. Please note that there is no need to try to measure the gear dimensions. The gear generator provides all or the gear's engineering details in a drop down located at the bottom of the generator window. The value you are looking for is the "pitch diameter". Divide by 2 to get the pitch radius. Add to this the pitch radius of the 2nd gear to find the exact axle-to-axle spacing. Add any backlash as you see fit. If you overlay (construction) circles of the pitch radii of meshing gears you will see that they just touch, whilst the teeth extend beyond this boundary without clashing.

[@wjj4832]

Mark Cooper - right - pitch diameter. I just learned that myself studying a Grainger’s catalogue.

[@nuduraraicf2861]

Hey Mark, just wanted to say thank you for the bit of engineering. "Pitch diameter" So awesome!

[@donmcdonald4347]

How do you find these details after you have created the gear? If you forget to write them down can you call them back again? I checked the properties for each gear and it gives your some dimensions. There is a length and width which is a strange measurement for a circular gear. They are the same so I suspect they are the outside (major) diameter of the gear. Can't find anything about the pitch diameter.

[@pointer333]

@@donmcdonald4347 YES PLEASE

[@wasd37]

Another great lesson!

[@paulmcwhorter]

Glad you liked it!

[@aakoksal]

Great video, I would love to see how inside helical gears designed, like the ring around a planetary gear system.

[@JD-ls5vt]

Another way to measuring the diameter of the gear select measure or press (i) on keyboard. when the box comes up > select face/edge/vortex and tick show snap points. snap points to measure and distance will show up.make sure you select points that are straight across.for the inside diameter you might have a hard time going straight across for a precise measurement, so just draw a construction line across perfectly centered then use the measure tool on the construction line snap points for the most precise measurement.

[@gavdownes100]

Very nice video. Very easy to follow. And everything worked. Nothing like doing a tutorial that you can't do some things

[@markgraves2216]

Thanks again for the great video. FYI - rather than creating a sketch to measure the diameter/radius of the gears you could use the Inspect --> measure tool. (I learned this earlier today.)

[@paulmcwhorter]

I will look into that.

[@richardreeves5291]

Also Paul, I dont know why you built a construction line between gears at 23 minutes, to set the distance between the two gears, when you could have just applied a dimension between the two centerpoints of the gears, for 51.212.

[@magna59]

My understanding of helical gears is that you have more effective contact area , spreading the loading over several teeth @ the same time . Less noisy that a spur / straight cut gear , but a little more lossy because the two wheels " screw up " against each other , requiring bearing faces detail on the end of the gear & the surfaces of the box .

[@chuckgreen355]

thanks for the help

[@valveman12]

Good tutorial. I'll give this a try. Question: Could you use Joint (rotation) to get the gears to line up correctly?

[@johnm4962]

Great video learned a ton

[@paulmcwhorter]

Glad to hear it!

[@apotter8888]

Thank you very much! :)

[@TankBuilders]

Excellent series, thank you. I love the way you invent words. The gear you're describing is a helical gear ("having the shape of a helix or spiral"). Helictical is an unnecessary neologism.

[@paulmcwhorter]

Grammar police, are you? Helictical is in some dictionaries.

[@TankBuilders]

@@paulmcwhorter My comment was uncalled for. Apologies. Helictical is a rarely used alternative form of helical, which is a bit easier to digest. I very much admire your videos and am grateful for all the effort you put into them. I'm learning every episode. Thanks.

[@puravida888]

Fantastic series, thank you. In Lesson 9, when I create the second (left) helical gear, it comes out hollow. I cannot figure it out.

[@neilfpv]

Amazing tutorial Paul! Subscribed! I have a question. Is there a plugin for creating worm gears?

[@nerdsanctuary8307]

lol @ the helictical gears. I admire you for trying... helical gears are awesome. they run quieter than spur (straight teeth) gears.

[@bertmouthaan]

Thanx Wiliam Sandoval for the tip about how to get the plug-in...

[@klaudijojadric3784]

Thanks for instructions, very helpful! How can we change diameter of Helical gears add from App Store?

[@tonybalaguer6957]

Hello Paul and thanks for your great lessons on Fusion 360. I am learning a lot. Just a comment, would you be using the Radial system for designing gears the pitch diameter, (or the diameter where the gear should be contacting the other one) could easily be calculated by multiplying the modulus times the number of teeth. So a gear with modulus 3 and 12 teeth has a 36mm pitch diameter! I think this would be easier for you and more accurate when calculating distance between gears centers.

[@abelroshni]

Great video.... btw, how do you change a parameter of a gear once it's been created... ie..say you want to reduce if from 18 teeth to 12 teeth, or change the tooth size etc?

[@mohamedabd-alqawy6979]

thank you again Sir

[@TheKverbeeck]

Another great video Paul, you can just measure the diameter of the gear using the "Measure tool. Measure between 2 diagonal points crossing the middle point. The result is d = 68.354 or your measured r = 34.177 times 2.

[@TheKverbeeck]

Also, you can find the inside diameter of the gear (without the teeth) in the first sketch of the Helix component (when selecting it)

[@RaadYacu]

This is way better than a fidget spinner. Thanks Paul

[@paulmcwhorter]

I find the gears and the 3d printed nut and bolt to be excellent fidget toys. I like the nut and bold because they are quiet. I give them to fidgety students so they can fidget quietly

[@rho35100]

More wanted I really hope you dont leave it at 11 lessons

[@mcapats9623]

Great video, as usual. If I had any friends I would tell them about it..

[@paulmcwhorter]

Funny!

[@wechulipaul]

As I was waiting for lesson 9, i tried to look at other tutorials on Fusion 360 and I run out of them like a little girl :). Thank you Paul for these tutorials, so simple and straightforward to follow. Keep them coming.

[@ufohunter3688]

Stop that nonsense... BOOM. Loved it. Learned it. Built it. Great tutorial. +1

[@bluegizmo1983]

I know this vid is a bit old now, but you don't have to orbit around to select a plane that's under or even inside your objects! All you have to do if hover your mouse over where that plane should be, and then left click and HOLD the button down and a selection box appears, allowing you to select that hidden plane (or anything else under your mouse cursor).

[@thedoctor5240]

quality, as always.

[@paulmcwhorter]

Thanks. I am having lots of fun with gears. They work great on the 3D printer.

[@gowfster1]

Paul, I’ve learned some really good things from you so far in this series and I’m grateful, and looking forward to them continue! One design comment on this one: in my opinion you made a major faux pas when you extruded the hole in gear center... imho you should never extrude a hole to a random depth, as it could ultimately cut other components also... the recommended approach is to extrude to a surface which in this case is the backside of he gear.. this ensures that you don’t inadvertently cut away from other components. This can become even more important when you start working in the timeline. This is constructive input as I’ve learned a tremendous amount from you!

[@paulmcwhorter]

Yes, excellent point.

[@chinmayperi3132]

add ins option isnt there on my workspace

[@jdawgaz]

I am running the latest version of F360 (2.0.3797) on osx. I do not have a Add from Fusion 360 App Store on the add ins menu. How do I get that?

[@philipmurray4065]

What is the formula for the distancing of two gears?

[@durbandroneguy5600]

Hi Paul, thanks for fantastic tutorials :) In this lesson 9 I have downloaded the Helical Gear Generator but cant seem to get it installed. I downloaded a PKG unzip app but still cant get it to install. Any help appreciated. Thanks Jason

[@LS-cg4od]

hello paul, wonderful experience this lesson. I wanted to know if I can have the gears printed by a company that does this for a living. At the moment I am learning and I have not taken the license of fusion 360. I have noticed that there is the command: Export. A file with the extension: f3d is saved. Does this file contain everything I need for my design to be printed?

[@sandeepkumar-by8gs]

thanks a lot

[@knutforsaa4115]

I have not yet bought a 3dprinter. Learning som fusion first. But have installed the meshmixer to get a prewiev. I can only select one object to send to printer. Is it me doing something wrong or is it because i am using hobby-ist free fusion ?

[@bakamund]

how do you figure out how many gear teeths you need for 2 gears of differing diameters to work together? non-engineering person here

[@chiplarkin1029]

I had trouble placing the gears on the base and getting the gear teeth to mesh.

[@garyyates5469]

Boom, getting the hang of this slowly.

[@obeidmirzagmail]

Helical Gear Generator is not installing on my macOS Sierra 10.12.6, I get the error message "The operation couldn’t be completed. (com.apple.installer.pagecontroller error -1.)"

[@tiberiumihaescu7348]

Awesome! Didn't know Fusion 360 has extensions :))

[@teddill4893]

Would it be easier to use "Create Hole" tool?

[@robertavery8897]

Shouldn’t u need to find the dia. Of the tangent of the pressure angle of the gear to get the proper mesh ???

[@1ilango1]

Great lesson as usual Paul. I tried to repeat it using parameters and it seems that the gear component does not update. I tried to change number of teeth as an example. Am I doing something wrong or the third party components do not refresh themselves from the table of parameters?.

[@1ilango1]

I am sorry, I did not notice that You have answered on this issue to Craig Wilson that plugins do not support parametric design. Sorry about that and again thank you for your great job.

[@bradkarain1937]

The first gear moves, as expected. For the second gear, the line (containing the point to which I would like to move the gear) is not visible. Help please...

[@lsrinivasan242]

for the updated version are u guys able to get the components from autodesk appstore?

[@noweare1]

8/2021 yes from the menu TOOLS -> ADD-INS

[@gameswarrior1946]

Just to note that if you right click when working out the dimensions of the gear you could have changed the measurement from 'Radius' to 'Diameter'.

[@MrKeithw124]

ive been trying to follow your videos but i cant get my z x and y orgins to match like your z is not up for me y is cant fix it

[@paulmcwhorter]

Go to preferences and set "Z is Up".

[@jonreeves7802]

I downloaded the file HelicalGear.bundle-macros.pkg but clicking on it did nothing. When you have the web page up, you said to click download, then you seem to be pointing to the web page when you said "click on it". Where exactly is the link we should click on? All I see is text, some links to videos, and customer reviews.

[@jamescullins2709]

awsome

[@mechsparks]

Hi Paul, Pls do video on assembly

[@happysteve6413]

Paul, I've been enjoying your fusion videos, I have been tryingto learn fusion360 for years without joy these videos are helping greatly, but, it pains me to see you measuring metric spur gears, the beauty of the module system is that these dimensions are easy to find. The pitch circle diameter is the number of teeth times the module. 18 x 3 mm. the distance between centers is the pcd's of the two gears added together and divided by two. If you google "metrics in engineering - metric gears " you can find some useful info. The outside diameter involves the addendum. Hope this helps