What counts as a tooth feature?

A flank, a lead or a profile the inspector measures and records on the plan. Count each feature once, so a gear with four measured flanks carries four features.

Why does a zero inspection rate block the calculation?

Base hours divide the feature count by the rate, so a zero rate has no hours answer. Enter the demonstrated rate before the model can price the workload.

Should setup sit in the rate or the allowance?

Put recurring rechecks and setup in the allowance, and keep the rate to the measurement itself. Counting setup in both places inflates the workload and the target comparison.

How does the target change the answer?

It does not move the required hours; it only decides whether the plan passes. A required time above target warns before the shift, when you can still add capacity.

Bearings, Gears & Power Transmission calculator

Tooth Inspection Workload Calculator

Convert a tooth feature count into inspection hours using the pace your inspectors demonstrate. Setup and rechecks extend the base time, and the target tells you whether the lot fits the shift window.

What this calculator does

Inspection hours a tooth feature count needs at a verified rate, with setup and recheck allowance.

Formula used

Base inspection hours = features to inspect ÷ inspection rate
Required inspection hours = base hours × (1 + allowance ÷ 100)
Setup and recheck hours = required hours − base hours
Hours over target = required hours − target inspection hours

Inputs explained

Tooth Features or Gears to Inspect: Tooth flanks or gears on the inspection plan, from the traveler.
Tooth Inspection Rate: Verified features an inspector checks per hour, from the time study.
Setup and Recheck Allowance: Share added for setup and rechecks, from the standard time sheet.
Target Inspection Hours: Inspection hours the schedule allows, from the work order.

How to use the result

Best suited to staffing a tooth inspection lot, quoting inspection on a gear order, checking a lot against a shift window.
Hours only; fixture, gage and layout costs need a separate inspection cost view. A new or complex tooth form runs slower than the studied rate until the inspector learns it.

Current U.S. benchmarks

The U.S. has 21,668 machinery manufacturing establishments employing about 1,086,146 workers (Census County Business Patterns, 2023).

Common questions

What counts as a tooth feature? A flank, a lead or a profile the inspector measures and records on the plan. Count each feature once, so a gear with four measured flanks carries four features.
Why does a zero inspection rate block the calculation? Base hours divide the feature count by the rate, so a zero rate has no hours answer. Enter the demonstrated rate before the model can price the workload.
Should setup sit in the rate or the allowance? Put recurring rechecks and setup in the allowance, and keep the rate to the measurement itself. Counting setup in both places inflates the workload and the target comparison.
How does the target change the answer? It does not move the required hours; it only decides whether the plan passes. A required time above target warns before the shift, when you can still add capacity.

Last reviewed 2026-10-01.