12-06-2014, 09:21 AM
I keep a couple of gears on my desk at work for show-n-tell. My in-tray is actually full of junk (broken stuff), it has surprised me how many people dig through it to play with those gears. Conversation pieces. Helical, left and right hand, one is cross ground for a pretty pattern. They sparkle, people like shiny things. They have been good advertising.
Your worm wheel, it doesn't look worm-ish to me. Normally they envelope the worm somewhat. More of an acme than involute, but it's hard to say. Many mysteries are involved. The bottom line is that you need specific instructions (and tooling) at to how they were originally made, or make both the worm and wheel as a pair yourself. Make two worms, one to become the cutter. Those worms will likely require a custom lead, which means making custom change gears for your lathe unless you have one of those electronic CNC hoohaws.
Your worm wheel, it doesn't look worm-ish to me. Normally they envelope the worm somewhat. More of an acme than involute, but it's hard to say. Many mysteries are involved. The bottom line is that you need specific instructions (and tooling) at to how they were originally made, or make both the worm and wheel as a pair yourself. Make two worms, one to become the cutter. Those worms will likely require a custom lead, which means making custom change gears for your lathe unless you have one of those electronic CNC hoohaws.