Custom Plastic Gears Vs. Metal

by | Nov 17, 2017 | Machining Manufacturer

If your Washington business uses a lot of metal gears or sprockets, you may have to replace them from time to time. Nothing lasts forever. Years ago, most business wouldn’t consider changing from their standard metal gears to custom plastic gears. However, for many applications today, it makes sense. Here are some important reasons to consider this type of change.

Why Plastics?

These are some of the advantages that plastic can provide:

* Weight – less weight is an important factor for many applications.

* Noise – metal gears can be very noisy.

* Cost – custom plastic gears can be manufactured in Washington, in a cost-effective manner

* Lubrication – many kinds of modern plastics have a built-in “lubricity.” This helps to cut down on wear and tear and can give you gears with better service lives. You can save on the cost of lubricants.

* Resistance to chemicals – iron or steel corrodes quickly when exposed to certain chemicals. However, you can choose plastics that are highly resistant to most chemicals in industrial and commercial environments.

* Moisture resistance – although moisture is not usually a concern, it can make its way into systems and plastics are impervious to moisture. They will not rust or corrode.

* Resistance to shock – modern plastics are tough and durable, yet they have built-in flexibility that gives them shock-resistance you cannot find with metals. Many metals will crack or break when exposed to repeated shock or vibrations.

Manufacturing Custom Plastic Gears for Washington Companies

When you choose your gears from a company specializing in custom made plastic gears, you can have the perfect size gears for your applications. Plastics can be injection molded or machined to very high tolerances, and you can have more than one gear or sprocket in a single assembly. Plastics can give you better efficiency and less downtime.

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