Geartrax - 2021
GearTrax 2021 is packed with features that cater to hobbyists, job shops, and Fortune 500 engineering teams. Here are the core capabilities:
Robotics engineers use GearTrax 2021 to design lightweight, high-strength planetary gear trains. The ability to quickly adjust backlashes is crucial for precision servo applications.
| Tool | Best for | Cost | |------|----------|------| | Geartrax 2021 | SOLIDWORKS users needing speed | $$ (perpetual) | | KISSsoft | Advanced rating/analysis | $$$$ | | FreeCAD Gear WB | Open source, basic gears | Free | | AutoCAD Plugin | 2D profiles only | $ | geartrax 2021
This is the "secret weapon" feature. Dual-lead worms have different leads on each flank, allowing zero backlash adjustment by simply shifting the worm axially.
GearTrax 2021 was the last version before a major UI overhaul (GearTrax 2022+ changed licensing and interface). Users still favor the 2021 version for: GearTrax 2021 is packed with features that cater
Final take: If you’re designing functional gears for manufacturing (not just visualization), GearTrax 2021 was a powerful, niche tool that filled SOLIDWORKS’ biggest geometric gap — and remains in use on many engineering workstations today.
Would you like a comparison with free alternatives (like eMachineShop Gear Generator or FreeCAD’s Gear workbench)? Final take: If you’re designing functional gears for
| Issue | Likely Cause | Solution | |-------|--------------|----------| | Teeth are sharp/pointed | Too few teeth + large module | Increase teeth or reduce module | | Model fails to insert | SOLIDWORKS rebuild error | Check face width > 0, restart SOLIDWORKS | | Preview shows no teeth | Wrong units (inch vs metric) | Re-enter values after switching units | | Helical gear has stepped flanks | Helix angle too high for face width | Reduce helix angle or increase face width | | Cannot select gear type | License not activated | Re-enter license / check network server |
