A footwear apparatus comprising: an upper portion including a lace cable for tightening the footwear apparatus; a lower portion coupled to the upper portion and including a cavity to receive a middle portion of the lace cable; and a lacing engine positionable within the cavity to receive the middle portion of the lace cable for automated tightening through rotation of a lace spool disposed in a superior surface of the lacing engine, the lacing engine further comprising: a gear motor ; and a gear box coupled a motor shaft extending from the gear motor, the gear box comprising a drive shaft extending axially in a direction opposite the gear motor, characterized in that the lacing engine further comprises: a worm drive coupled to the drive shaft to control rotation of the worm drive in response to gear motor activation; and a worm gear to translate rotation of the worm drive transversely to rotation of the lace spool to tighten or loosen the lace cable, wherein the worm drive is slidably keyed to the drive shaft to transfer axial loads received from the worm gear away from the gear box and gear motor. an upper portion including a lace cable for tightening the footwear apparatus; a lower portion coupled to the upper portion and including a cavity to receive a middle portion of the lace cable; and a lacing engine positionable within the cavity to receive the middle portion of the lace cable for automated tightening through rotation of a lace spool disposed in a superior surface of the lacing engine, the lacing engine further comprising: a gear motor ; and a gear box coupled a motor shaft extending from the gear motor, the gear box comprising a drive shaft extending axially in a direction opposite the gear motor, characterized in that the lacing engine further comprises: a worm drive coupled to the drive shaft to control rotation of the worm drive in response to gear motor activation; and a worm gear to translate rotation of the worm drive transversely to rotation of the lace spool to tighten or loosen the lace cable, wherein the worm drive is slidably keyed to the drive shaft to transfer axial loads received from the worm gear away from the gear box and gear motor. a gear motor ; and a gear box coupled a motor shaft extending from the gear motor, the gear box comprising a drive shaft extending axially in a direction opposite the gear motor, characterized in that the lacing engine further comprises: a worm drive coupled to the drive shaft to control rotation of the worm drive in response to gear motor activation; and a worm gear to translate rotation of the worm drive transversely to rotation of the lace spool to tighten or loosen the lace cable, wherein the worm drive is slidably keyed to the drive shaft to transfer axial loads received from the worm gear away from the gear box and gear motor. a worm drive coupled to the drive shaft to control rotation of the worm drive in response to gear motor activation; and a worm gear to translate rotation of the worm drive transversely to rotation of the lace spool to tighten or loosen the lace cable, wherein the worm drive is slidably keyed to the drive shaft to transfer axial loads received from the worm gear away from the gear box and gear motor. <EOS>