Industrial Gear Information

Key Elements

Applications

Performance

Industrial gears as a segment comprises primarily of gears and gearboxes. Industrial gears are a critical component of the thriving gear industry. To understand its importance would be knowing the fact that it takes second position only after Automotive gears.

Industrial gears are the devices, that are used along with other gears and parts which are engaged in motion. Along with it they transfer power and the necessary motion either through a product or a network of parts.

Industrial gears are used in a numerous industries. They are used to manage speed, torque and the rotational direction of the driven machine. Because of its nature of application, Industrial gears are designed specifically for withstanding harsh conditions and repetitive use. Modern industrial gears are specifically produced to combine efficiency with light weight and compactness in dimensions. Production of Industrial gears or for that matter any gears is broadly segmented into “open” or “loose” and “enclosed drive” types.

“Open” or “loose” Gears: Open” or “loose” gears are generally manufactured in pairs. They consist of the gear and pinion. “Open” or “loose” gears are often customized. They get produced at the contract machine shops according to certain standards and specifications. Interestingly these gears are not produced by the manufacturers for their own use.

“Enclosed drive” Gears: In the Gears of the type “Enclosed drive”, supply complete assemblies, are supplied by the manufacturers. Subsequently an OEM (original equipment manufacturer) installs these gears into their final product.

Key elements of an Industrial Gear selection process
As we are all aware that Industrial gears are primarily involved into almost every thing that has an engine or for that matter in motors that produces rotational motion. So it is of prime importance that the mechanics and workings of the Industrial Gears should be of optimum use. The following elements need to be considered for efficiency of Industrial Gears.

• Gear Teeth and Gear ratio
  These are two of the most vital factors that determines the control, function and speed being offered with a pair of the gear pieces. The key to determine the right gears for a purpose primarily centers around the factors of size, material ingredients and the gear ratio. These factors combined together ascertains the speed, strength and durability of the gear.
  
  
• Gear Material
  Another very important factor. Actually it is the application that will decide the type of Gear material. For metal gears, commonly used materials can be selected from the following:
  • Cast iron
  • Brass
  • Bronze
  • Steel
  • Hardened steel
  • Stainless steel
  • Aluminum
  • Plastics
  • Other Materials
    • Acetal
    • Delrin
    • Nylon
    • Polycarbonate
  • Combination materials like plastic and metal
    
    
• Size specifications: Size specifications should include, face length and width. Number of teeth, pitch diameter.
  
  
• Other factors: This includes design power transmission necessities, level of noise, heat generation, corrosive elements etc.
  
  

Application of Industrial Gears
Some of the prominent industries where Industrial Gears find application are:

• Mining Industry
• Power Generation Industry
• Petroleum Industry
• Paper and pulp Industry
• Construction Industry
• Steel Industry
• Aerospace
• Wind Turbines
• Cement Industry
• Agro Industry
• Rolling mills

Performance Parameters of Industrial Gears
Given below are some of the important parameters on which the performance of the Industrial Gears needs to be based:

• Molding Accuracy
• Dimensional Stability
• Chemical Resistance
• Resistance to impact
• Mechanical Strength and Stiffness
• Resistance to Fatigue
• Resistance to wear
• Resistance to heat
• Electrical Conductivity
• Flame Retardant ability