Focusing on the design, manufacturing processes, heat treatment techniques, and key quality control points for all types of standard and non-standard gears.
| Parameter Item | Total Machining Range |
| Module / Diametral Pitch | M1 ~ M20 / DP 1 ~ DP 25, supports both metric and imperial standards |
| Number of Teeth (Z) | Z10 ~ Z200 |
| Maximum Tip Diameter | ≤ 800mm |
| Face Width Range | ≤ 250mm |
| Overall Shaft Length | ≤ 1500mm |
| Accuracy Grade | GB/T 10095 Grade 4~8 |
Also known as double helical gears in the industry, herringbone gears are a category of heavy-duty cylindrical gears built for parallel shaft transmission.
Put simply, a herringbone gear consists of two helical gear sections with equal helix angles and opposite rotational directions, joined symmetrically along the axis. The tooth profile forms a distinct herringbone pattern — the very feature that gives the gear its name.
They carry forward all the core strengths of helical gears: high contact ratio, smooth operation, and exceptional load-carrying capacity. At the same time, the axial thrust forces generated by the two opposing tooth halves cancel each other out completely. This removes the need for separate thrust bearings and allows for a simplified housing and shaft system design.
That said, herringbone gears demand higher machining accuracy and more complex production processes, which makes them significantly more expensive to manufacture than standard helical gears. For this reason, they are predominantly deployed in high-power, heavy-duty transmission scenarios including marine propulsion systems, steel rolling mills, wind turbine gearboxes and heavy mining machinery.
These gears use an industry-standard involute tooth profile with a nominal 20° pressure angle. Fundamentally, they are constructed from two helical gear segments with matching helix angles and opposite hand directions, symmetrically joined along the axis to create the characteristic herringbone tooth pattern. Two common construction types are available: one-piece and split-assembled. Large-module gears are typically machined with a tool withdrawal groove, while small-module, high-precision variants often use a one-piece groove-free design.
Herringbone gears inherit the smooth, gradual engagement and disengagement of helical gears, while boasting a higher contact ratio than standard single helical gears — meaning more teeth share the load at any given moment. This reduces operational shock, delivers smoother running and better noise reduction, and delivers a significant boost to load capacity, making them well suited for continuous heavy-duty operation over extended service hours.
This is the defining advantage of herringbone gears. The axial thrust forces generated by the two opposing helical sections during meshing are equal in magnitude and opposite in direction, canceling each other out completely within the gear. The drive shaft and supporting bearings experience almost exclusively radial loads, eliminating the need for separate thrust bearings. There is also no need for axial reinforcement of the gear housing, which simplifies shaft system design and prolongs bearing service life.
Transmission efficiency is comparable to single helical gears of the same precision grade, at approximately 97% to 98%. The main drawback is the higher manufacturing barrier: stricter requirements for machine tools, cutting tools, and operator expertise drive production costs well above those of standard spur and helical gears. For this reason, they are almost exclusively used in heavy-duty, high-power applications; they offer very little cost advantage for light-load, small-module general transmission systems.
| Parameter | Standard Mass Production Version (for General Heavy-duty Service) |
High-precision Custom Version (for Precision Heavy-duty Transmission) |
| I. Core Dimensional Specifications | ||
| Module / Diametral Pitch (DP) Range | M2 ~ M28 / DP 1 ~ DP 18 | M2.5 ~ M16 / DP 2 ~ DP 12 |
| Number of Teeth (Z) Range | Z12 ~ Z280 | Z15 ~ Z200 |
| Maximum Outside Diameter (OD) | ≤ 1200mm | ≤ 900mm |
| Total Face Width Range (incl. Tool Withdrawal Groove) |
≤ 450mm | ≤ 350mm |
| Tool Withdrawal Groove Specs | Default groove width 8~20mm, adjustable upon request | Customized per accuracy requirements; one-piece structure without groove available |
| Bore Diameter Range | φ20mm ~ φ450mm | φ20mm ~ φ350mm |
| Supporting Hole & Shaft Machining | Keyways, splines, stepped bores, end face tapped holes and dowel pin holes machined in sync | One-setup machining for all processes; strictly guaranteed concentricity, face runout and tooth lead symmetry |
| II. Tooth Profile & Accuracy Specifications | ||
| Tooth Profile Standard | Involute herringbone profile, compliant with both metric and imperial standards | Involute herringbone profile; customizable for non-standard profiles, profile shift coefficients and addendum coefficients |
| Standard Pressure Angle | 20° (default); 14.5°/15°/22.5° available upon customization | 20°; non-standard pressure angles such as 14.5°/15°/22.5°/25° available upon customization |
| Helix Angle Specs | 15°~30° (default 20°); strictly symmetrical for left-hand and right-hand helix | 10°~35°; asymmetrical helix angle customizable; helix angle deviation ≤ 3 arcminutes |
| Accuracy Grade | GB/T 10095 Grade 7~8, equivalent to AGMA Grade 10~11 / ISO Grade 7~8; tooth lead symmetry ≤ 0.05mm |
GB/T 10095 Grade 4~6, equivalent to AGMA Grade 12~14 / ISO Grade 4~6; tooth lead symmetry ≤ 0.02mm |
| Tooth Profile & Lead Modification | Standard profile; basic tip relief available | Tip relief, lead crowning, end relief and helix angle modification available; precise optimization of heavy-load contact zones |
| Tooth Surface Roughness | Ra 3.2 ~ 6.3μm | Ra 0.8 ~ 1.6μm; tooth surface grinding / honing super-finishing available |
| III. Exclusive Transmission Performance Parameters | ||
| Axial Force Balance Performance | Axial forces on left and right tooth faces fully counteracted; no extra axial load on bearings | Axial force balance accuracy ≥98%; minimal residual axial force; greatly extended bearing service life |
| Total Contact Ratio | ≥ 2.5; transmission stability over 30% higher than spur gears | ≥ 3.5; impact and vibration reduced by over 50%; suitable for high-speed quiet transmission |
| Load Carrying Capacity (vs. spur gears of same module) |
40% ~ 60% higher than external spur gears | 60% ~ 80% higher than external spur gears; suitable for heavy-load impact conditions |
| Load Contact Pattern Requirement | ≥ 40% in tooth depth direction, ≥ 50% in face width direction | ≥ 60% in tooth depth direction, ≥ 75% in face width direction; contact zone under load precisely controllable |
| IV. Manufacturing Process & Supporting Options | ||
| Core Manufacturing Process | Precision hobbing + shaving (optional) | Precision hobbing + form grinding / honing; full-tooth-surface precision machining |
| Available Structure Types | One-piece with tool withdrawal groove / split assembled type | One-piece without groove and precision type with groove both customizable; integrated shaft-gear structure supported |
| Dynamic Balance Grade | G6.3 grade dynamic balance treatment optional | Default G2.5 grade high-precision dynamic balance; suitable for high-speed transmission |
High-quality blanks are forged and normalized to eliminate internal stress and stabilize material structure.
Turning, milling and hobbing/shaping are applied to form the target tooth profile with strict accuracy control.
Carburizing quenching or tempering processes to improve tooth surface hardness and core toughness.
Grinding of tooth flanks, bores and datum faces to correct deformation and enhance meshing precision.
Full-dimensional verification by gear measuring center and CMM to qualify products before release.
Professional anti-rust and protective packaging to keep products intact during storage and transit.
High-precision gear grinding delivers tooth surface roughness as low as Ra 0.4, with tight meshing, low vibration and noise for smoother equipment operation.
Premium materials matched with precise heat treatment ensure wear-resistant tooth surfaces and impact-resistant core, cutting maintenance and replacement costs.
Custom solutions for high-speed heavy load, corrosion resistance and food-grade scenarios, eliminating trial-and-error costs in product selection.
Scaled production supports tiered pricing for bulk orders with consistent quality; full-process control guarantees stable lead time and complete after-sales support.
representative grades: 20CrMnTi, 42CrMo, 20CrMo
As the standard workhorse material for herringbone gears, it offers excellent hardenability. Through targeted heat treatment, it delivers a robust combination of a hardened tooth surface and a high-toughness core, making it ideal for sustained heavy-duty operation. Carburized and quenched grades are designed for high-precision, long-service-life applications, while quenched and tempered variants suit standard heavy-duty scenarios. It carries a higher material and processing cost than conventional carbon steel.
representative grade: 45 Steel
This is an economical choice for herringbone gear manufacturing. After quenching and tempering, it achieves a well-balanced strength and toughness profile. It is easy to machine, cost-efficient, and performs reliably in drives with steady loads, moderate speeds and standard precision requirements. Its limited hardenability means it is not suitable for extreme heavy-duty conditions involving large modules, heavy impact or high rotational speeds.
Representative grades: 316L, 25Cr2MoV
These fall into a specialty custom material category, with grades formulated on demand exclusively for challenging operating conditions such as corrosive atmospheres and elevated temperatures. They are engineered to address specific transmission needs in harsh environments, and are almost never selected for standard heavy-duty applications.
representative grades: QT700-2, QT800-3
A cost-effective alternative for large-module herringbone gears, ductile cast iron features excellent castability, superior vibration damping and noise reduction compared to steel, and lower overall machining costs. It is well suited for large heavy-duty drives running at low to medium speeds with moderate impact loads, and is widely deployed in mining reducers and auxiliary metallurgical equipment. Its load capacity and impact resistance do not match those of structural steel, so it is not recommended for high-speed, high-impact or high-precision applications.
This is the core application area for herringbone gears, which are widely deployed across the high- and low-speed stages of large parallel-shaft reducers and high-power industrial gearboxes. Compared with standard helical gears, they deliver higher load capacity, and their self-balancing axial force feature significantly reduces bearing loads and extends overall equipment service life, making them well suited for continuous heavy-duty operation in mining and metallurgical facilities.
Herringbone gears are essentially a standard fit in the main drive systems of rolling mill main drives, large uncoilers, straighteners and other metallurgical equipment. These applications are defined by heavy impact loads and frequent load fluctuations. The multi-tooth meshing characteristic of herringbone gears delivers superior impact resistance, while the mutual cancellation of axial forces reduces shaft end float and prevents bearing failure under shock loads — a key advantage in the harsh operating environment of metallurgical workshops.
Herringbone gear designs are commonly specified for the main propulsion gearboxes and high-power diesel engine drive trains of large vessels. Marine propulsion demands continuous, high-power output over extended operating cycles. Herringbone gears run smoothly with low meshing noise, effectively reducing hull vibration; their self-balancing axial force also simplifies power shaft system design and boosts reliability for long-voyage operation.
Herringbone gear configurations are frequently used in the core transmission stages of wind turbine gearboxes. Wind farms operate under complex conditions with frequent alternating loads, placing extremely high demands on gear service life and reliability. The higher contact ratio of herringbone gears distributes tooth surface stress more evenly, and self-balancing axial forces cut down on bearing wear. Their overall service life and stability outperform standard helical gear solutions, matching the wind power industry’s requirement for long-cycle, maintenance-free operation.
Herringbone gears are also a common choice for the main drives of heavy mining equipment such as large mine hoists, heavy crushers and scraper conveyors. Mining operations take place in dusty conditions with heavy impact loads. Herringbone gears offer higher overall load strength and better resistance to tooth root bending fatigue, making them more durable than standard helical gears. They effectively lengthen equipment overhaul intervals and reduce on-site maintenance costs.
Herringbone gear structures are widely adopted in the main drive systems of heavy port equipment including large quay cranes, gantry cranes and bucket wheel stacker-reclaimers. These applications involve frequent starting and braking, combined with heavy impact load fluctuations. The multi-tooth meshing feature of herringbone gears effectively cushions impact loads, while the mutual cancellation of axial forces reduces shaft end float, improves the fatigue life of the drive system, and supports reliable continuous outdoor operation in port environments.
Inner VCI vacuum anti-rust process fully seals tooth flanks and critical machined surfaces, effectively resisting salt spray and moisture during ocean and air freight to keep precision gears corrosion-free throughout long-distance transit.
We select cost-effective logistics channels with stable transit time and controlled costs. Full logistics tracking is available with real-time status updates to ensure reliable and punctual delivery.
All products are covered by a 1-year warranty. Quality defects caused by non-human factors are fully guaranteed, removing your procurement concerns.
Our professional technical and after-sales team is always available to respond quickly to inquiries and after-sales needs, and efficiently resolve issues during installation and operation.
We support full-parameter OEM/ODM customization based on 2D/3D drawings or physical samples, including module, tooth profile, material and heat treatment specifications. You only need to provide core gear parameters, detailed drawings or physical samples to start the customization process.
You can send physical samples to us via international courier. Upon receipt, we will complete full-dimensional measurement and parameter verification, then arrange sample production after confirming the solution, ensuring the finished product fully matches the original in installation dimensions and transmission performance.
Prototype orders usually ship within 15–25 days, subject to heat treatment and grinding scheduling. Lead time for bulk orders will be confirmed after process finalization, with stable and well-managed production schedules.
We adopt a tiered pricing policy — the larger the order quantity, the more favorable the unit price. All orders follow the same production and quality inspection standards with strict accuracy control. Quality will never be compromised for larger order volumes.
We can include dimensional inspection reports, hardness test records and material certificates with each shipment. For high-precision key projects, professional inspection data from CMM and gear measuring centers is also available.
All products come with a 1-year warranty covering material defects and manufacturing quality issues under normal use. We also have a professional technical team to provide full-process consultation and selection support.
Spur gears feature a simple structure and no axial load, ideal for medium-low speed general transmission with higher cost-effectiveness. Helical gears run smoother with lower noise and higher load capacity, suitable for high-speed heavy-duty applications. We can recommend the optimal solution based on your actual requirements.
+86 184 3796 0706 
info@destinytrans.com 
