Engineers have lots of questions to answer before they decide which material to use.
Materials are important to the engineering design process because it can literally make or break the design. Your choice of material will affect not only how the equipment (in this case, a gear) functions in its natural role, but also how it’s produced, and how much it’s going to cost for the end user. There are many types of material that can be used in gear manufacturing, including various alloys, plastics, and even ceramic.
So what things do engineers consider when selecting a material to use?
- Mechanical properties. First, we need to consider the mechanical properties of the material. For example, how much load can it withstand? Does it need to withstand a certain amount? Does it matter if the material conducts electricity? How strong or stiff is it?
- Wear and corrosion. We also need to think about the wear and corrosion that might take place, given the conditions of the new gear. Most gears are constantly moving parts that come in contact with other parts, but speed and load can make the need for wear resistance higher. Similarly, some gears will be more vulnerable to corrosion given their environment, so we also have to keep that in mind when selecting materials.
- Manufacturability. Some materials are simply easier to manufacture than others. For example, some materials are harder to machine because they chip, or crack, or otherwise are more susceptible to manufacturing errors.
- Cost. Finally, we have to consider the cost. Some materials are more expensive to procure and take longer to machine, which means we have to charge our end customers more for them. We try to save costs whenever possible, but never if it means compromising the integrity of the project.
If you aren’t sure what material should be used for your next gear project, or you want to learn more about gear manufacturing, contact Federal Gear today! We’ll walk you through the process and give you a quote.