Review Paper on Design and Fabrication of Worm Shaft using CNC Lathe Machine

The performance and reliability of worm gear drives depend strongly on the accuracy and surface quality of the worm shaft, especially in applications requiring compact design and high reduction ratios. Conventional manufacturing methods rely on standard module hubs and manual machining operations, which limit flexibility and increase cost for customized worm shafts. This work presents the design and fabrication of a custom worm shaft using a CNC lathe machine, employing a grooving tool for custom thread cutting instead of specialized hobs. The methodology includes design calculations, 3D CAD modeling, CNC toolpath generation using CAM software, experimental machining on a CNC turning center, and inspection of dimensional accuracy and surface finish. Results indicate that the CNC-based approach can achieve dimensional tolerances of about ±0.02 mm, surface roughness of approximately Ra 1.6 µm, and a production time reduction of 25–30% compared with manual machining, while enabling flexible production of non-standard worm modules.