[Plugin] SPGears

jgrundman

Crossed helical gear - shaft angle off

Sig,
You should have tried fitting the "drawn" gears together to check fit beforeprinting. You would have seen that things don't line up properly. The problem is how the gears are drawn, so getting things to mesh correctly requires some trial and error. Sorry for the inconvenience. I've added it to the list of changes.
-J-

mikaelgu

I just want to say that it's great to see you developing this again! I once used the plugin to design and print a set of bevel gears and I managed to get a set that meshes just fine (I did do a lot of checking in Sketchup before printing though.

Again, thank you for you hard work, it's much appreciated!

Mikael

jumpjack

I think this site could be very interesting for the developer of this plugin:
http://www.epi-eng.com/propeller_reduction_technology/gear_design.htm

jumpjack

I think an important upgrade (which probably would not require a major upgrade to 2.0) which could be very useful: specifying number of teeth should result in creating gears of different diameter but with same teeth size; this would make it much easier to make "compatible" gears.

(look at http://sites.google.com/site/simgears for the trial of an STL gears generator)

rogerphillips

Brilliant plugin - I managed to quickly 3D Print a replacement gear for my broken laminator, using this plugin and some extra lines

wimve

@jumpjack said:

Has this plug-in been updated? Does it support worms too now?
It would be also amazing if it supported Sketchy Physics...

Good plug-in but I miss the follow up.
Nobody who can pick up the challenge ?

Repair the inch-mm problem
create a corresponding worm
small help

In addition: how do I create a corresponding worm ?

wimve

@wimve said:

@jumpjack said:

Has this plug-in been updated? Does it support worms too now?
It would be also amazing if it supported Sketchy Physics...

Good plug-in but I miss the follow up.
Nobody who can pick up the challenge ?

Repair the inch-mm problem

create a corresponding worm
In addition: how do I create a corresponding worm ?

Nobody ?
I especially need some help with making a worm gear.

CarlMiddle

How do you punch a hole through the gear? I've tried several different ways and it just won't do it. I want to 3D print it with a D shape hole to fit my motor but it won't let me!

jumpjack

The resulting gear is an object: double click it to edit it.

jonathonlt

MY FIRST POST ATTEMPT ..LONG TERM PROJECT FOR AUTO-MATED TRANSPORT REQUIRING ,GEAR RACK,, I SEE IN YOUR MAGIC LITTLE WINDOW ENTER GEAR DIAMETER or RACK LENGTH ,,AS YET UNABLE TO CREATE A RACK LITTLE TIME ON LINE HENCE ALL DONNA,S TO WIKI PIDIA AND THE KNOWLEDGE AT THE MOMENT JON

jgrundman

@jonathonlt said:

MY FIRST POST ATTEMPT ..LONG TERM PROJECT FOR AUTO-MATED TRANSPORT REQUIRING ,GEAR RACK,, I SEE IN YOUR MAGIC LITTLE WINDOW ENTER GEAR DIAMETER or RACK LENGTH ,,AS YET UNABLE TO CREATE A RACK LITTLE TIME ON LINE HENCE ALL DONNA,S TO WIKI PIDIA AND THE KNOWLEDGE AT THE MOMENT JON

Jon,
Sorry, but I never got around to adding racks to this version, and it is not like to happen. BUT, there is good news. I am currently working on a "pro" version that will include both racks and worms, plus many other features and enhancements! I know folks have been waiting a long time for this, but the wait is almost over. I know I've stated before that I was "working on it" and had nothing to show for it, so here's a quick sneak peek...

More detail to follow; very soon. Really.

-J-

DingBEN

WIN 7 Pro, SketchUp Pro
Pardon my green-ness, but I installed 1.0 and realized there is now a 1.2
I installed 1.0 via some link here, NOT the ZIP!
I want to install 1.2

Where is the 1.2 download link? no download link on that page
or how to install from zip, since the 1.2 zip extracts an .rb file NOT an .rbz!?
It recommends to uninstall old versions!? HOW is that accomplished!?
I see nothing in the menus to uninstall extensions.
One thing I noticed on 1.0: the handle(cursor) does not want to latch on to the best inferred handle... it seems to snag around it and latch on to any other close point

Thank you.

jgrundman

@dingben said:

Where is the 1.2 download link? no download link on that page
or how to install from zip, since the 1.2 zip extracts an .rb file NOT an .rbz!?

The link for v1.2 is at the top of the first page of this thread. To install a .rb plugin, just copy the extracted file into your plugins folder (C:\Users*usernme*\AppData\Roaming\SketchUp\SketchUp 2016\SketchUp\Plugins). Restart Sketchup and the plugin should now be listed in "Extension" menu.

@dingben said:

It recommends to uninstall old versions!? HOW is that accomplished!?
I see nothing in the menus to uninstall extensions.

These earlier versions predate the extension managers, so they are installed & uninstalled manually. To remove the previous version, just open the plugins folder, as noted above, and move/delete the older version.

@dingben said:

One thing I noticed on 1.0: the handle(cursor) does not want to latch on to the best inferred handle... it seems to snag around it and latch on to any other close point

The plugin does not have any effect on the cursor, so the issue is most likely with Sketchup's limitations working with very small (< 1/64" or 0.39mm) measurements. While programmatically we can work with smaller distances, manual operations using the cursor will not always cooperate. The simplest solution is to scale the model up, make any changes, then scale it back down. It's only a rough workaround, so some geometry may behave unexpectedly when you scale back down.

Keep in mind that Sketchup is CAM (modeling) not CAD (design), so it has some limitations. This is one of them. Another that has frustrated new users is that objects are collections of edges and faces, so curves are not going to perfectly smooth. It's usually not a problem unless you 3D print a model because the curves will be a series of flat faces and edges, making mating surfaces a bit clunky.

Good luck and thanks for trying the SPGears plugin.

DingBEN

Thank you so much for the prompt answer.

YOU MAY WAN TO BE AWARE OF THIS:
Unless I keep a separate record(messy) I have no idea what version is running

Extensions Menu shows: SPGears_mjg(no version)

so I did this:

in Plugins folder
/// I renamed SPGears_mjg.rb to SPGears_mjg_v1.0.rb(may need to remove)
/// and I placed the SPGears_mjg_v1.2.rb
Extensions Menu still shows: SPGears_mjg
/// but the new ShatfDiameter options shows in the SPGears Parameters dialog
/// thus it is running the SPGears_mjg_v1.2.rb
/// tried the Shaft Diameter... creates no centered hole for the shaft at all ?

Also, creating 2 beveled gears of different radius.. 48 and 24 teeth
Number of Teeth: 48 24
Pressure Angle: 20 "
Pitch Radius: 10" 5
Face Width: 3" "
Helix Angle: 0.0 "
Bevel Angle: 45deg "
Shift Diameter: 0.5, or 0.375, or 0.3125 "

The teeth line up at the large(outside) face end, but fail to line up at the small(inside) face end

Is this due to incorrect/missing parameters?
(can you point to some instructions?)

DingBEN

REF:
/// previous msg, stated beveled gears fail to match on inside/small face

thus this line:
/// Beveled helicals are not very precise (yet), so getting them to line up with mating gears may not work

on page:
/// https://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=323%26amp;t=46319

...may explain this anomaly!?

...had read it initially, but did not remember... a 2nd visit, woke me up!

DingBEN

%(#FF0000)[HEY! I have added a few improvements to your list.
...and mind you, I even prioritized them]

Already planned improvements for next version:

- emboss gear with parameters used to create it(3D text): T-48, Rad-10", ...
- emboss gear with MSPversion used(3D text): MSPv[1.2, ...
OR surely those values could be in the entity!?]
- additional gear styles (rack, worm, and internal ring)
- improve calculations and accuracy
- web dialog UI (additional input params and auto-calculations)
- gear properties/specs dialog via context menu
- improved validation

jgrundman

@dingben said:

%(#FF0000)[HEY! I have added a few improvements to your list.
...and mind you, I even prioritized them]

Already planned improvements for next version:

- emboss gear with parameters used to create it(3D text): T-48, Rad-10", ...

- emboss gear with MSPversion used(3D text): MSPv[1.2, ...
OR surely those values could be in the entity!?]

additional gear styles (rack, worm, and internal ring)

improve calculations and accuracy

web dialog UI (additional input params and auto-calculations)

gear properties/specs dialog via context menu

improved validation

- Embossing is an interesting idea. Unfortunately, I'm still working through the "must have" list, so embossing will have to go on the "maybe" list.
- Rack, Worm, and Ring have already been added; just working out the kinks. I posted a "sneak peek" video earlier in this thread. Check it out.
- Calculations and accuracy are greatly improved and I've even added resolution options for speed (low & med res) vs. accuracy/smoothness (high & very high) to accommodate 3D printers.
- Web dialog is already planned and will include a few auto-calculations. I'm trying to keep the UI minimal, so it will only include a few details to help with dialing in the params.
- Spec dialog and entity properties are planned.
- Validation has been improved but increases in complexity with each user input. So, input params will be kept to a minimum.

Thanks for the suggestions, and for prioritizing them. Sorry embossing was bumped to the end of the list, but it is still on there.

Just in case your next question is "when", the answer is still "soon", but I've had to put it aside for a bit to focus on other stuff. I was shooting for Summer, but now my hope is to get it out by Fall.

-J-

jgrundman

@dingben said:

REF:
/// previous msg, stated beveled gears fail to match on inside/small face

thus this line:
/// Beveled helicals are not very precise (yet), so getting them to line up with mating gears may not work

on page:
/// https://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=323%26amp;t=46319

...may explain this anomaly!?

...had read it initially, but did not remember... a 2nd visit, woke me up!

Yeah, redoing the Spiral-bevels for the pending version was a big hurdle and still isn't perfect. Right now, I have to sneak up on the ideal helix angle to get a proper fit. By adjusting the target angle by 1-3 degs. I can usually clear up interference in the pair.

BTW, the pending version draws mated pairs, aligned and enmeshed. It makes the sneak-up process easier, but you still have to examine the tooth contact, close-up and from numerous angles. It needs more work, but I'm pretty sure I can solve it.

TIG

Why haven't you updated the RBZ version of your entry in the PluginStore ?

It's quite straightforward to edit it...
But if you need assistance PM me or Rich...

You should then add a link in the original post to its Download...

It would avoid any ongoing confusion.

carts

@mikaelgu said:

Found a small bug:
Regardless of the unit of measure of pitch radius, the face width is always measured in inches, makes it a little harder to make gears of certain widths when using the metric system.

open the plugin in notepad press ctrl+f or from Edit menu select Find... type "inch" (without quotes)and press find next button. You will see...

@@rad_pitch = 5.0.inch
@@face_width = 3.0

make it to

@@rad_pitch = 5.0.mm
@@face_width = 3.0.mm

then press again Find next and you will see...

number of teeth/inch

make it

number of teeth/mm

and press ctrl+s or from File menu select Save. That's it.

Plugin path is C:\Users\Username\AppData\Roaming\SketchUp\SketchUp 2019\SketchUp\Plugins