Machine Design Elements Board Practice Exam

The ideal design practice for managing evenly and uniformly worn gear teeth is the inclusion of a hunting tooth addition. This approach involves using gears that have an extra tooth (or teeth) designed to not align directly with the mating gear at all times. This design promotes more uniform wear across the gear teeth over time, as it allows for the redistribution of contact over different tooth profiles.

By utilizing hunting tooth arrangements, the load is shared across multiple teeth during operation, effectively increasing the operational lifespan of the gears and enhancing their performance. This technique can help mitigate localized wear, which tends to occur in standard gear designs, as it reduces the chances of specific teeth experiencing excessive wear over time due to continuous, repetitive engagement.

In contrast, while the other options may address certain aspects of gear durability and performance, they do not specifically tackle the issue of ensuring uniform wear across gear teeth. For instance, wear resistance alloy addition can help improve the surface characteristics of the gears, and heat treatment can enhance strength and reduce brittleness. However, these methods do not directly influence how the gears wear in relation to their engagement. Hardening each tooth focuses on increasing surface hardness, but if teeth are not utilized in a way that promotes even contact and wear over their lifespan, uneven wear