Cycloid Drive FEM Methods

Hi,

for a first guess you don't need FEM.

Contact stress between teeth of different radii is governed by Hertzian pressure distribution - an analytical solution of contact of curved surfaces now around 100 years old.

Stresses much further away from the contact lines (?are these really lines?) can be estimated by the elastic deformation of thick-walled cylinders.

The real problem will come up with the geometrical tolerances of one tooth to the next when small geometrical differences will result in big stresses.

Also this can be estimated by hertzian contact stresses as the stiffness is calculated therein too and two non-matching points in contact will share their elastic deformation as any flexures that are loaded in parallel do this.

Have success and please share your results here.

RHABE