Argument on Plastic Gears for Power Transmission

Abstract

First, I introduced various kinds of plastics, showed relationships between the relative prices of the principal ones and their heat resistant temperatures, and described various characteristics of plastics, taking the examples of polyamide (nylon) and polyacetal, which are commonly used plastic gear materials. Subsequently, I studied the dynamic behavior of plastic teeth, which is not observed in metal teeth and is related to the viscoelastic properties of plastics, and described various phenomena such as the temperature distribution on the tooth profile, the change in the tooth profile, the recess (groove) occurring near the pitch point, and breakage of the tooth, which are problems of plastic gears. © 1995, The Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers. All rights reserved.