Choosing a gear manufacturer is a big decision. Depending on the size and scope of your job, you could be paying thousands of dollars for custom materials—but no matter what, you need to make sure the job is done right. One small slip in precision, or one improper procedure could compromise your entire project. You need to make sure your gear manufacturer of choice is reputable, capable, and reliable, but do you know what questions to ask to investigate these qualities?
When scouting for a gear manufacturer for your job, make sure you ask these five questions:
- What design software do you use? A quality job starts with a quality design, because before you can cut anything, you need to know what you’re cutting. Look for a firm with a solid engineering team and reliable software, like Solidworks’s solid modeling software.
- What are your capabilities? Not all gear manufacturers are alike. Some have niche areas of specialty, while some (like Federal Gear) are capable of producing all kinds of gears, like spur and helical, internal, and bevel gears.
- How long have you been around? History isn’t everything, but it’s a good indication of reliability. When a manufacturer has been around for decades, it means they’re doing something right.
- Are you capable of reverse engineering gears? Reverse engineering is a crucial process for gear replacement, but not all gear manufacturers are capable of the requisite level of precision here.
- What client references can you provide? It’s a good idea to check your gear manufacturer’s past performance. Contact some of their past and current clients to get a feel for what level of service they provide.
With more than 100 years of history, Federal Gear has earned a reputation as one of the best gear manufacturers in the country. We’re proud of that reputation, and we’re here to serve all your gear-related needs. If you have a job, or any question about our process, be sure to contact us.