Abstract
A new wave generator (or cam) is proposed (Maiti, Patent 1995) to drive the flex gear of strain wave gearing i.e., harmonic drives with gear pairs of pure involute profiles. The cam profile is made of circular arcs at the two contact zones and shifted elliptical curves for the other zones. The geometric constniction is made in such a way that tip interference is properly avoided for both engagement and disengagement with nominally stubbed or full depth involute gears. The theories are established to verify other geometric and gearing conditions. Evidently, in the existing products (all are patented design) the profiles are non-involute and none of them offers ideal gear kinematics. It is expected that this new harmonic drive will offer the best gearing kinematics and will have desired accurate performance.
