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A worm drive is a gear arrangement in which a worm (which is a gear in the form of a screw) meshes with
a worm gear (which is similar in appearance to a spur gear, and is also called a worm wheel).
A worm is used to reduce speed. For each complete turn of the worm shaft the gear shaft advances only
one tooth of the gear.
Unlike ordinary gears, the motion is not reversible, a worm can drive a gear to reduce speed but a gear
cannot drive a worm to increase it.
As the speed is reduced the power to the drive increases correspondingly. Worm gears are a compact,
efficient means of substantially decreasing speed and increasing power. Ideal for use with small
electric motors.
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