Development of a Precision Variable Load Transmission Error Test Device

The need for more accurate determination of gear noise sources for high-speed powertrain gear systems has lead to the development of a new test device. The General Motors Noise and Vibration Center at Milford Michigan is the first installation of the Rotational Analytics GL3000. The GL3000 has been developed to provide both unloaded and loaded transmission error measurements of both bare gearsets and gear subassemblies.

The GL3000 was designed to provide a thermally and load stable structure capable of providing micron level positional accuracy during test. Linear slides provide the capability to sweep through a range of gear positions while accumulating rotational data from both gear axes with arc second level precision. Simultaneous acquisition of acoustic signatures is provided by the Rotec USA analysis system.

Trials of the GL3000 have shown excellent correlation between the transmission error and acoustic signatures. Transmission error measurement accuracy and repeatability of the GL3000 have proven to be far better than that provided by previous measurement systems.