Worm Gears

Worm and worm-wheel sets for high reduction in a compact envelope. Popular in lifts, indexing tables, and self-locking drives.

Worm + wheel as a system

We machine the worm (screw) and worm wheel together when ratio and center distance are defined. That keeps mesh consistent for indexing tables, lifts, gates, and compact reducers where a catalog set won’t drop into your housing. Send center distance, ratio (or tooth counts), and lead/hand—we’ll quote the pair on one traveler so both parts ship ready to assemble.

Materials that match the duty

Steel worms against bronze or acetal wheels are a common industrial pairing: the harder worm carries the sliding wear while the wheel is replaceable. All-steel or plastic sets are available when your drawing calls for them. Tell us load, input speed, duty cycle, and whether self-locking matters—those four inputs drive material and start-count choices more than any catalog page.

Practical backlash & center distance

We hold center distance and tooth thickness to your print. For adjustable housings, we can leave slight stock or recommend shim strategy so you can dial backlash on assembly. If the housing is already finished, share the as-machined center distance—we’ll cut the set to fit rather than force a theoretical number that no longer exists.

Inspection, lubrication notes & lead time

Worm sets get center-distance verification, worm lead/hand check, and wheel tooth-thickness inspection on critical jobs. We’ll note recommended lube type when the duty is continuous (sliding contact runs hot if starved). Prototype sets often need a bit more schedule than spur gears because both members and any bronze stock must align—ask for a set ship date on the quote.

Where buyers use custom worm sets

Typical RFQs: rotary indexers, scissor lifts, valve actuators, camera/pan-tilt stages, packaging gates, and compact robot tooling where high ratio in a short stack beats a multi-stage spur train. We support overseas and global buyers who need 1–50 custom sets—not a foundry-scale catalog run—with export-ready packaging and clear lead times.

Worm set DFM

•Define center distance before freezing the housing—worm mesh does not forgive stacked tolerance the way a belt does.
•State whether self-locking is required; multi-start worms may back-drive when a single-start would hold.
•Bronze wheels need reliable stock lead time—approve material early on rush jobs.

Mesh & center-distance checks

✓Worm lead and hand verified against the print before pack-out.
✓Wheel tooth thickness checked on critical ratios.
✓Center distance confirmed when the set is cut as a pair.
✓Deburr on worm starts and wheel teeth to protect soft wheel materials.

Lead time for worm sets

Prototype worm sets usually need a bit more schedule than spur gears because both members and any bronze stock must align—often in the 1–2 week range after DFM when material is ready. Ask for a shared set ship date on the quote.

Worm gear FAQ

Can you make only the worm wheel?

Yes if you already have a worm and can share lead, hand, and pitch data (or a sample). Best results still come from quoting the pair.

How do I know if I need self-locking?

If the load must not back-drive when power is off (lifts, gates), say so on the RFQ. We’ll help pick start count and ratio with that constraint in mind.

Worm set specs at a glance

Ratio: Per drawing / center distance; single- or multi-start worms
Worm: Steel common; grind/finish options; keyways & bearing seats
Wheel materials: Bronze, steel, acetal, nylon—matched to duty
Center distance: Held to print; adjustable-housing stock optional
Secondary: Keyways, bearing seats, black oxide, anodize
QC: Lead/hand, tooth thickness, center-distance verify
Batch: Prototypes and small lots (typical 1–50 sets)
Quote needs: Ratio, CD, materials, self-lock intent, qty

Quote a worm + wheel set

Send ratio, center distance, materials, and whether self-locking matters—we’ll quote the set with DFM and a shared ship date.

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