Plastic Gears - A Growing Industry Still Seeking Respect

摘要

Forty years ago, the plastics industry was practically in its embryonic phase when that classic movie line was delivered to Dustin Hoffman's befuddled, just-graduated, in-search-of-a-career character, Benjamin Braddock. Today, although still in its infancy, plastic gear manufacture has made significant gains in the gear industry, with plastic gears now being used in applications never thought possible. And yet, while envelope pushing by plastics suppliers, gear manufacturers and end-users alike guarantees that plastic gear market share will continue to grow, there nevertheless remains a level of skepticism. A number of product designers and parts specifiers with industrial applications remain unconvinced that gears produced from plastic are capable of matching the high-temperature, high-power functionality of metal gears. But talk to any number of relevant players in the plastics industry - gear molders and suppliers - and they will tell you that when decisions are made regarding gear materials for high-capability, high-performance applications, plastic gears are getting a bad rap.