In the article featured below in Gear Solutions magazine the author, Brian Dengel, looks at the materials that are universally appropriate for gears and those suited to specific applications.
There are many distinct materials for each style of gearing. Each material has unique properties that make it suitable. The application will dictate what material should be selected for the gear design.
So what materials are suitable for gear racks, drive gears, bevel gears and spur gears? The author looks at the properties of materials that are best suited for those gear types and their applications.
These materials include carbon steel, alloy steel, stainless steel, plastic, nylon, bronze, cast iron, aluminium, aluminium bronze, acetal gears and fibreglass-filled nylons.
Their characteristics may be durability, strength, the ability to be heat treated, weight, absorption and even non-magnetic properties.
It makes an interesting read to examine the properties that make certain materials appropriate to certain applications – read more.