Gears, gear boxes, gear shafts, parts and related products are necessary for almost every type of mechanical equipment. Most of us have only a basic understanding of how gears work; even less people have ever heard of gear boxes or gear shafts, let alone know what they do. Hopefully, this article will help provide at least a little knowledge of these products and their applications.

Gears are defined as a “toothed machine part that meshes with another toothed machine part to transmit motion or change speed.” They are small, large or any size in between, and are used in anything with spinning parts, such as automobiles, washing machines and many, many other products.

Gear boxes are designed to prevent damage to the gears, and also to prevent possible bodily injury that could be caused by entanglement in the gears. The more complex the gear system is, the bigger and more sturdy the gearbox should be. These boxes are most often constructed of metal of some type, but can be made of plastic as well.

The clearest example of a gear shaft is automobile wheels. The shaft is a metal tube that runs underneath the car and is attached on both sides to the wheels of the auto; this allows the wheels to rotate at the same time.

Gears, gear boxes, gear shafts, parts and related products, whether you realise it or not, are a part of everyday life. A little knowledge of how they work may help you diagnose and repair simple problems.