Wear-resistant plastic gears

From a single part to high-volume production of up to several millions

Gear test: cycles until gear break

 

Our manufacturing procedure

From a single part to high-volume quantities of up to several millions

Application examples with plastic gears

 

This is why we developed our gears:

Your questions and our answers (FAQ)

What is a gear?
The gear is a round component that has uniformly distributed teeth around its circumference. It is used to transmit force between two rotating gears or between a gear and a gear rack. Depending on the application, further types are used. 

What types of gears are available?
The most common types of gears/gear components are:  

• Spur gears 
• Gear racks 
• Worm gears 
• Bevel gears 

Different kinds of gear and toothing are often combined with each other in order to implement certain sequences of movement.  

When do gears fit together?
In order for gears to move easily, it is important that the teeth can mesh with each other. For this, the teeth of the gears must have the same size and therefore the same module. This applies to all gearing components, e.g. also for gear racks, bevel gears, etc.

What is the module of a gear?
The module indicates the size of a gear. The module is calculated by dividing the pitch circle diameter by the number of teeth (m= d/z).
It should be noted that only gears with the same module can be combined.

How long does a gear last?
The service life of a gear depends on various factors. On the one hand, the specifications (e.g. module or number of teeth) of the gear and how the gear is used (e.g. application temperature, torque or speed). If you would like to know in advance how long a gear will last in your application, you are welcome to fill out our form for a free service life calculation.
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How are the gears produced from iglidur® high-performance polymers? 
At igus, gears are manufactured using three manufacturing processes:

• Injection moulding with iglidur® granulates 
• Mechanical processing from iglidur® bar stock  
• 3D printing with iglidur® laser sintering or FDM materials 

Depending on the request, we will advise you free of charge and without obligation regarding production in order to find the best cost-effective solution together with you.    

How are iglidur® gears tested?
In our Testlab we have test rigs to test our gears made of a wide variety of iglidur® materials in various scenarios. We would also be happy to provide you with samples for your application-related tests.   

What is the minimum order quantity?
There is no minimum order quantity for our gears. You can enquire and order with no minimum order quantity. 

Can iglidur® gears be lubricated?
External lubrication of the gears is not required. All of the materials we use have been tribologically optimised and designed for dry operation. In case you want to lubricate, you can do so in combination with a silicon-free lubricant. 

I need a special type, is this possible?
Yes, the production of special geometries is possible and feasible for all quantity scenarios due to our wide range of manufacturing processes. We would be happy to provide you with individual advice on your special geometry and the appropriate material. You can submit an enquiry for your individual gear here.

What are the benefits of iglidur® gears? 
The iglidur® gears do not require any external lubrication and are therefore maintenance-free. In addition, you benefit from the long service life of our gears, which is due to wear-resistant materials, which we achieve with the formulations of iglidur® materials. Compared to metallic gears, plastic gears are quiet and offer optimal emergency operating specifications. The tribological optimisation of the materials also achieves a low coefficient of friction.  

When does a gear need to be replaced?   
As soon as power transmission is no longer possible due to wear on the gear, they must be replaced. Through geometric adjustments such as for e.g. module, number of teeth or by choosing the right material, the service life of the gears can be increased.   

What are the available areas of application?
The iglidur® gears are used in all industries. Depending on the area of application, we offer special materials that, for e.g., have FDA conformity or certain fire standards (such as the automotive sector), or similar.  

Further information on our materials