The tools required for worm maintenance can be categorized into four groups-cleaning, lubrication, inspection, and disassembly/assembly-covering the entire process from routine upkeep to in-depth overhauls:
Cleaning Tools
- Vacuum cleaner: Used with a soft-hose attachment to remove metal shavings and dust from the worm's tooth grooves, avoiding scratches on the tooth surface caused by stiff-bristled brushes.
- Lint-free non-woven cloth/soft cotton cloth: Used to wipe away oil stains and residual impurities from the worm surface; prevents lint from ordinary rags from contaminating the lubrication system.
- Neutral cleaner: A specialized, non-alcoholic metal cleaner used for removing stubborn oil stains without corroding the worm's metal surface.
Lubrication Tools
- Grease gun/specialized oiler: Used to precisely inject specialized worm gear grease or gear oil, ensuring even lubrication by applying the lubricant while the component rotates.
- Oil sight glass/oil level gauge: Used to verify that the lubricant level is at the standard position (two-thirds of the sight glass height), preventing overfilling or underfilling.
- Seal conditioner/leak-stop agent: Used during maintenance to help restore the elasticity of sealing rings and reduce the risk of oil leakage during operation.
Inspection Tools
- Vernier caliper, micrometer: Used to measure the worm's basic outer diameter and length, determining whether wear exceeds permissible limits.
- Universal bevel protractor, gear caliper: Used to check the worm's helix angle and tooth thickness parameters, verifying transmission accuracy.
- Measuring pins: Used with the "three-pin method" to precisely measure the worm's pitch diameter and assess the degree of tooth surface wear.
- Temperature gun/contact thermometer: Used to monitor housing temperature during operation, ensuring it remains below the safe threshold of 85°C.
- Dial indicator: Used to check the worm's axial play and meshing backlash; adjustments are required if the clearance exceeds 0.15 mm.
