Differential Gears

Differential gears are designed with accurate involute tooth profiles and tailored flank geometries to ensure even load distribution across the contact surface. Profile crowning and lead modifications are strategically applied to minimize edge loading and reduce stress concentrations.

Gear Type

Spiral Bevel (Hypoid) / Straight Bevel / Helical

Number of Teeth

8–24 teeth (side gears) / 10–28 teeth (spider gears); ±0.5 tooth engagement tolerance

Tooth Profile

Gleason (spiral bevel) / Klingelnberg (hypoid); Pressure angle: 20°–22° (std) / 25° (high-load)

Material Specification

Case-Hardened Steel (SAE 8620/4320) / Forged Alloy (4340 for racing)

Hardness & Case Depth

58–62 HRC (tooth surface); Case depth – 0.8–1.5 mm (carburized)

Product Description

These geometric enhancements help prevent premature fatigue and micropitting by lowering localized stress peaks. As a result, differential gears offer improved durability and longer service life under fluctuating torque loads and demanding dynamic conditions found in both automotive and industrial environments.

Surface Finish

0.4–0.8 μm Ra (ground) / 0.2–0.4 μm Ra (super-finished for noise reduction)

Bore Diameter/Spline Count

25–60 mm bore (±0.015 mm); 24–36 splines (SAE/DIN standards)

Bearing Surface Diameter

30–80 mm (±0.02 mm); Roundness ≤0.005 mm for spider gear journals

Dimensional Tolerances

Tooth pitch error – ≤0.02 mm; Runout – ≤0.03 mm TIR (per AGMA 2000-A88)

Certification Standards

ISO 9001:2015, AGMA 2004-B89, SAE J2319 (differential testing)

Technical Advantages

The selection of alloy compositions incorporating elements such as chromium, molybdenum, and nickel facilitates superior core toughness and case hardenability. Heat treatment processes including carburization, quenching, and tempering establish a hardened surface layer with a precisely controlled case depth and residual compressive stresses. These treatments significantly enhance contact fatigue strength, improving resistance to pitting, scuffing, and spalling, while maintaining ductility in the gear core to absorb shock loads without catastrophic failure.

CNC gear cutting and subsequent multi-stage grinding achieve micron-level accuracy in tooth geometry, ensuring optimal meshing with minimal backlash. Advanced surface finishing techniques, such as honing and superfinishing, reduce surface roughness and friction coefficients. This tight control over dimensional accuracy and surface integrity minimizes vibrational excitations and gear whine by preventing gear tooth micro-geometry deviations that cause dynamic instabilities within the gear mesh during operation.

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Industry Applications

Automotive Drivetrain Torque Management

Enables torque distribution between wheels, improving traction and handling on various terrains and during cornering maneuvers.

Heavy-Duty Truck Load Handling

Manages high torque loads and reduces drivetrain stress under variable payload and road conditions in heavy-duty trucks.

Agricultural Machinery Traction Control

Balances power transfer between wheels, ensuring efficient field traction in uneven and soft soil environments.

Off-Road Vehicle Wheel Speed Compensation

Maintains traction on slippery or rugged surfaces by compensating wheel speed differences effectively in off-road conditions.

Construction Equipment Stability Enhancement

Distributes torque robustly to improve machine stability during heavy load lifting and complex maneuvering tasks.

Industrial Robotics Precision Synchronization

Synchronizes rotational speed between actuators, enabling controlled multi-axis movements in robotic applications.

Thermal Management and Lubrication Compatibility

The differential gear design incorporates considerations for thermal expansion and lubricant film thickness to maintain effective elastohydrodynamic lubrication under variable thermal and load conditions. Surface microstructure refinement promotes compatibility with synthetic and semi-synthetic lubricants, enhancing film strength and wear protection.

Tight geometric tolerances conforming to AGMA or ISO gear standards ensure interchangeability and seamless integration with axle assemblies and housings. This precision facilitates controlled gear backlash and preloading conditions critical to differential function, enabling predictable load sharing between wheels.

Having Doubts? Our FAQ

Check all our Frequently Asked Question

How does Frigate ensure the precision of differential gear tooth profiles during manufacturing?

Frigate utilizes advanced CNC gear cutting and grinding machines that achieve micron-level accuracy in gear geometry. The process includes multi-stage inspections to verify profile and lead modifications. This precision minimizes stress concentrations and ensures uniform load distribution across gear teeth. It directly contributes to improved gear durability and drivetrain performance.

What materials and heat treatment processes does Frigate apply for high-strength differential gears?

Frigate selects alloy steels with optimized chemical compositions for core toughness and case hardenability. Heat treatments like carburizing and tempering are tightly controlled to achieve a hardened surface layer with ideal case depth. This results in superior resistance to pitting, scuffing, and fatigue. The combination ensures gears can withstand high torque and shock loads without failure.

How does Frigate control backlash in differential gears to enhance NVH performance?

Backlash settings are precisely maintained using calibrated tooling and in-process measurement systems during manufacturing. Frigate adheres to strict tolerances defined by AGMA and ISO gear standards. Correct backlash reduces gear tooth impacts and vibration during mesh engagement. This leads to quieter operation and improved driver comfort in automotive applications.

What quality control methods does Frigate employ to verify heat treatment uniformity on differential gears?

Frigate performs hardness mapping using microhardness testers across gear teeth and core areas. Residual stress measurements and microstructure inspections are also conducted on sample batches. These tests confirm uniform heat treatment and absence of weak zones. Ensuring consistent hardness and stress distribution reduces the risk of premature gear failure.

How does Frigate optimize surface finishing to maintain lubrication in differential gears?

Frigate applies precision grinding followed by superfinishing to reduce surface roughness to sub-micron levels. This enhances the lubricant film’s stability and load-carrying capacity. The optimized surface finish minimizes friction and wear during high-speed operation. It supports effective elastohydrodynamic lubrication, increasing gear service life under thermal and mechanical stress.

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