Split gearing, another technique, consists of two gear halves positioned side-by-side. One half is fixed to a shaft while springs cause the other half to rotate somewhat. This increases the effective tooth thickness so that it completely fills the tooth space of the mating equipment, thereby eliminating backlash. In another version, an assembler bolts the rotated half to the fixed half after assembly. Split gearing is normally used in light-load, low-speed applications.

The simplest and most common way to reduce backlash in a set of gears is to shorten the length between their centers. This techniques the gears into a tighter mesh with low or even zero clearance between teeth. It eliminates the result of variations in middle distance, tooth sizes, and bearing eccentricities. To shorten the center distance, either adjust the gears to a fixed range and lock them in place (with bolts) or spring-load one against the various other therefore they stay tightly meshed.
Fixed assemblies are typically used in heavyload applications where reducers must invert their direction of rotation (bi-directional). Though “set,” they may still require readjusting during service to pay for tooth put on. Bevel, spur, helical, and worm gears lend themselves to set applications. Spring-loaded assemblies, however, maintain a constant zero backlash and are generally used for low-torque applications.

Common design methods include short center distance, spring-loaded split gears, plastic-type material fillers, tapered gears, preloaded gear trains, and dual path gear trains.

Precision reducers typically limit backlash to about 2 deg and so are used in applications such as for example instrumentation. Higher precision models that accomplish near-zero backlash are used in applications such as for example robotic systems and machine device spindles.
Gear designs could be modified in many ways to cut backlash. Some strategies change the gears to a set tooth clearance during preliminary assembly. With this process, backlash eventually increases due to wear, which needs readjustment. Other designs make use of springs to hold meshing gears at a constant backlash level throughout their program lifestyle. They’re generally limited by light load applications, though.