The State Key Laboratory of mechanical transmission was approved by the former State Planning Commission in 1988 and officially opened to the outside world in 1991.

The State Key Laboratory of mechanical transmission is located in the basic and applied basic research of high-performance mechanical transmission and its related fields: Aiming at the major needs of national defense and national economic construction for mechanical transmission and system, focusing on the cutting-edge disciplines of high-speed, precision, heavy load, intelligence, high reliable motion and power transmission, focusing on the key scientific issues of transmission system design, manufacturing, testing, materials and so on, Carry out systematic and in-depth basic and application research and key technology research.

Guided by meeting the major strategic needs of the country, the laboratory innovates the transmission system design and manufacturing theories and methods by carrying out systematic and in-depth basic and application basic research, taking "consolidating the foundation, expanding and crossing" as the overall development idea, taking "key technologies and equipment of high-quality transmission system" as the research focus, and taking "building a first-class platform, cultivating first-class talents, doing first-class research and producing first-class achievements" as the purpose, Lead the development of mechanical transmission science and technology and build the laboratory into an international leading scientific research and talent training base.

The laboratory continues to carry out systematic and in-depth research in mechanical transmission and related fields, and has achieved a series of innovative achievements with wide influence at home and abroad, including plane double enveloping hourglass worm transmission, forming and processing method of curved parts, spiral bevel gear and quasi double curved surface gear transmission, efficient transmission system based on new engineering composite materials, virtual instrument and networked manufacturing system, high reliability and long-life filter transmission technology The key technologies and equipment of precision NC machining of complex modified gears have built a first-class research platform covering mechanical transmission design and analysis, processing and manufacturing, testing and material research and development. It has become the most important base for mechanical transmission science and technology research, talent cultivation and gathering, academic exchange and cooperation in China.