Rack and pinions are used for lifting mechanisms (vertical movement), horizontal motion, positioning mechanisms, stoppers and also to let the synchronous rotation of many shafts in Spur Gear Rack general industrial machinery. On the other hand, they are also found in steering systems to change the direction of cars. The features of rack and pinion systems in steering are as follows: simple framework, high rigidity, little and lightweight, and superb responsiveness. With this system, the pinion, installed to the steering shaft, is meshed with a steering rack to transmit rotary movement laterlly (transforming it to linear movement) to ensure that you can control the wheel. Furthermore, rack and pinions are used for many other purposes, such as toys and lateral slide gates.

As a mechanical element to transfer rotary into linear movement, gear racks are often in comparison to ball screws. There are benefits and drawbacks for using racks instead of ball screws. The benefits of a equipment rack are its mechanical simplicity, huge load carrying capacity, no limit to the length, etc. One drawback though is the backlash. The advantages of a ball screw will be 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, as the pinion traverses and others where in fact the pinion rotates on a fixed axis as the gear rack moves. The previous is used broadly in conveying systems as the latter can be utilized in extrusion systems and lifting/lowering applications.

To provide many variants of rack and pinion, KHK has many types of gear racks in share. If the application takes a long duration requiring multiple gear racks in series, we’ve racks with the tooth forms correctly configured at the ends. These are described as “gear racks with machined ends”. Whenever a equipment rack is produced, the tooth cutting process and the heat treatment process could cause it to try & walk out true. We are able to control this with unique presses & remedial processes.