Rack and pinions are used for lifting mechanisms (vertical movement), horizontal movement, positioning mechanisms, stoppers and to let the synchronous rotation of a number of shafts generally industrial machinery. However, also, they are found in steering systems to improve the direction of cars. The characteristics of rack and pinion systems in steering are the following: simple framework, high rigidity, little and lightweight, and exceptional responsiveness. With this mechanism, the pinion, mounted to the steering shaft, is certainly meshed with a steering rack to transmit rotary movement laterlly (transforming it to linear movement) so that you can control the wheel. In addition, rack and pinions are utilized for several other purposes, such as playthings and lateral slide gates.
As a mechanical element to transfer rotary into linear motion, gear racks tend to be compared to ball screws. There are benefits and drawbacks for using racks in place of ball screws. The benefits of a equipment rack are its mechanical simplicity, huge load carrying capacity, and no limit to the space, etc. One drawback though may be the backlash. The benefits of a ball screw are the high precision and lower backlash while its shortcomings are the limit in duration due to deflection.
There are applications where in fact the gear rack is stationary, while the pinion traverses and others where the pinion rotates upon a fixed axis as the gear rack moves. The previous is used broadly in conveying systems while the latter can be used in extrusion systems and lifting/lowering applications.
To provide many variants of rack and pinion, KHK has various kinds of equipment racks in stock. If the application takes a long duration requiring multiple gear racks in series, we’ve racks with the tooth forms properly configured at the ends. These are described as “equipment racks with Spur Gear Rack machined ends”. When a gear rack is produced, the tooth cutting process and heat treatment process could cause it to try & walk out true. We are able to control this with particular presses & remedial processes.