April 2, 2011
By Brian McMillin

Readme file for Moi3d Scripts for Epicycloid reducer profile generator, and
also for Hypocycloid reducer profile generator.

Based on the paper "On the lobe profile design in a cycloid reducer using
instant velocity center," by Joong-Ho Shin, Soon-Man Kwon.

Created by (slightly) modifying the MOI3d "Circular Helix Array" script program of Michael Gibson.
(A competent programmer could combine the cycloids into one script with check boxes....)
Note: These two scripts have not been extensively tested, but seem to work very well, and simply, with MoI.

Notepad++ makes a convenient editor for the two Script programs, and the two html programs.

Previously created cycloids, using an excel spreadsheet, with points imported to Alibre.

These two script programs, and two html programs are installed similarly to other Moi3d scripts.
Copy the 4 programs to the commands folder, under Moi2.0 folder, under Program Files(x86) (or equivalent folder).
Start MoI. Under Options, Shortcut keys, Add two unused shortcut keys. For example Key "E", and Command "Epicycloid".
For example Key "Y", and Command "Hypocycloid". Return to MoI. Done.
Hit the shortcut key to create the cycloid, and modify parameters.

Profiles can be further modified in MoI3d, offset, extruded, etc.
Export and import to Alibre can be done also.

Interesting shapes can be created.

Cycloid reducer could be designed, with rollers, or even Cycloid Ball Reducer.
A few References:
"The Development of gearless reducers with rolling balls" by Hidetsugu Terada.
"Geometric Design of Cycloidal Drives with Ceramic Ball Meshing Elements" by J.J. Zhou, J.X. Hu and M. Huang.

"Gear geometry of cycloid drives" by CHEN BingKui, Fang Ting Ting, LI ChaoYang & WANG Shu Yan. (For an alternative
universal formula.)

Edit 12/3/2011 see post 10 for updated versions.