When to Choose Plastic Gears

Plastic gears have found widespread diffusion in recent years and increasingly intensive use in various industries.

Their success is guaranteed by some advantages that the plastic element offers including:

• reduced mass and weight
• good damping properties
• wide design freedom, compared to steel
• possibility of operation without lubricant
• possibility of producing large quantities, thanks to injection molding.

Of course, there is no shortage of limitations, including moderate operating temperatures, low fatigue resistance and the high coefficient of thermal expansion, though the application of plastic gears is conquering more and more fields of application.

Aware of the importance that this type of product is assuming in power transmissions, Riduttori Italia has chosen to invest in the study and design of plastic gears, relying on a figure specialized in the subject.

Gear designers, in fact, are used to working with the physical characteristics of steel, but the manufacturing rules for plastic are completely different. In plastic gears the shape of the tooth and of the entire wheel body is much freer, and the bending fatigue limits of the material toothl must be well known, as a function of the temperature.

Furthermore, it is interesting the possibility given by plastic of being able to work with different combinations of matrices, additives and lubricants depending on the specific requirements of the application. However, these combinations must be well known to avoid failure during the operation of the gear itself.

Beyond the pursuit of a trend that sees the use of plastic gears in power transmissions in key sectors such as industrial and automotive, the entrance in this market increases our supply potential by qualifying us as the ideal partner for those looking for a reliable supplier attentive to the specific needs of the project.

Get in touch with Riduttori Italia to discuss your next project.