Influence of Metal Flank Hardness of Machined and Cold Forged Gears on Wear within a Metal-Polyamide Gear Pair and Targeted Process Adaptation

Abstract Metal-polyamide gear pairs provide advantages but their application is limited due to wear. The properties of the metallic gearing significantly affect wear behavior. However, influence varying materials as well flank hardness not known. Within this contribution, occurring mechanisms when applying steel, brass and aluminum with resulting from manufacturing by machining cold forging were identified. Depending on tooth flank, release particles (3-body abrasion) or surface roughening (2-body results. formation a wear-reducing transfer film only possible sufficient strength tribological compatibility. Maximum occurs at metal about 120 HV 3-body abrasion high abrasive effect particles. adaptation process enables local increase in plastic strain 84% an elevated (+ 53%) for reduced Furthermore, Aluminum pinions produced adapted achieve performance level steel within investigated load case.