Course Description
Format: Live Online
Date: August 18-20 & 25-27, 2026
- Tuesday, August 18 – 11:00-3:00pm CT
- Wednesday, August 19 – 11:00-3:00pm CT
- Thursday, August 20 – 11:00-3:00pm CT
- Tuesday, August 25 – 11:00-3:00pm CT
- Wednesday, August 26 – 11:00-3:00pm CT
- Thursday, August 27 – 11:00-3:00pm CT
Gearbox Systems Design: The Rest of the Story…Everything but the Gears & Bearings
This course focuses the supporting elements of a gearbox that allow gears and bearings to do their jobs most efficiently. Learn about seals, lubrication, lubricants, housings, breathers, and other details that go into designing gearbox systems.
You will earn 24 clock hours upon completion of the course and they will be listed on your certificate of completion.
Learning Objectives
- Describe types of housing construction, housing elements (covers, inspection ports, sump, mounting, etc.).
- Apply drawing practices for housings and related components.
- Bearing mounting, retention and sealing.
- Describe election and role of gearbox accessories, such as breathers, filters, screens, sight gages, and other level indication devices.
- Apply the appropriate lubricant selection.
- Apply the lubricant to the rotating elements.
- Describe the selection criteria concerning the basic lubricant chemistry.
- Discuss drawing practices and tolerancing from the designers’ perspective.
- Learn about translating the general design from the design manual to the individual component drawings.
Registration Rates
Member Rates
Early Bird First Registrant – $1,950
(Deadline until 6/4/26)
Regular First Registrant – $2,050
(Deadline: 6/5/26 – 7/21/26)
Late First Registrant – $2,100
(Deadline: 7/22/26 – 8/4/26)
NON-MEMBER RATE
Early Bird First Registrant – $2,450
(Deadline until 6/4/26)
Regular First Registrant – $2,550
(Deadline: 6/5/26 – 7/22/26)
Late First Registrant – $2,600
(Deadline: 7/22/26 – 8/4/26)
Who Should Attend
Gear design engineers; management involved with the design and manufacture of gearing type components; metallurgists and materials engineers; laboratory technicians; quality assurance technicians; furnace design engineers; and equipment suppliers.
Instructors
Raymond J. Drago, P.E.
Raymond J. Drago is Chief Engineer of Drive Systems Technology, Inc. (DST), a mechanical power transmission consulting organization that he founded in 1976. Mr. Drago also worked for the Boeing Company – Helicopters Division until his retirement after 37 years of service. Currently Mr. Drago is involved in the analysis, design, manufacture, assembly, and testing of many gear systems. In his role with DST, Mr. Drago is active in all areas of mechanical power transmission, including the design and analysis of drive systems in a very diverse field of application from heart pumps to very large mining & mill gears. He has used his 58 years of gear technology experience to prepare and deliver more than 150 Technical Papers and 385 courses dealing with various aspects of gear design and analysis.
I started working at Boeing in 1967 and continued until my retirement in 2004. I started Drive Systems Technology in 1976 as a part time activity while still working at Boeing (with Boeing’s knowledge and approval, under strict guidelines) which eventually grew to the point where I retired early from Boeing in order to pursue DST as a full-time activity.
Steve Cymbala
Steve Cymbala has served as Senior Drives Engineer for Drive Systems Technology, Inc. for more than 40 years. In this capacity, Steve performs gearbox design functions as well as client drawing reviews prior to placement of orders. He performs field gearbox failure investigations as well as witnessing various Non-Destructive Examination inspections at gear manufacturing facilities on behalf of DST, Inc. clients. Steve was an employee of the Boeing Company for 34 years where he held a position of Staff Engineer.
Photo Release
From time to time MPMA uses photographs, survey answers and testimonial of MPMA events in its promotional materials. Unless this permission is revoked in writing to the MPMA, by virtue of your attendance all attendees agree to the use of their likeness in such materials.
Cancellation and Payment Policy
Please view our cancellation policy.
Please view our late registration policy.
Please view our code of conduct.