What Kind of Steel Is Generally Used for the Sprocket

A sprocket is a very traditional mechanical device. It is a tool in which a serrated wheel is interlocked with a belt embedded chain to transmit mechanical force. The sprocket is widely used in life and various mechanical fields, and it is the product of human wisdom.

The size of the sprocket is calculated according to the diameter of the wheel, in order to generate different sizes of mechanical force, the size of the wheel is very diverse. In this blog, we will discuss it together.

What kind of steel is generally used for the sprocket?

The material of the wheel chain is usually 45# steel or 40Cr under normal working conditions, and the heat treatment is usually done after quenching and tempering and surface quenching. The profile of the quenched and tempered workpiece is 235~275HB below 100mm, and 225~255HB above 100mm. Surface quenching should indicate the quenching position, quenching depth, hardness, etc. HRC53~58.

Structural design of sprocket materials

1. The tooth profile of the sprocket must ensure that the chain can enter and exit meshing smoothly and freely, minimize the impact and contact stress of the chain link during meshing, and be easy to process. The commonly used sprocket end face tooth profile is composed of three arcs and a straight line, which is referred to as three arc-straight line teeth. The tooth shape is processed with standard tools. It is not necessary to draw the end face tooth shape on the working drawing of the sprocket. It is only necessary to indicate "the tooth shape is manufactured according to 3RGB1244-85" on the drawing, but the axial surface tooth shape of the sprocket should be drawn.

2. Sprocket structure, small-diameter sprockets are generally made of integral type, and medium-diameter sprockets are mostly made of spoke plates. In order to facilitate handling, clamping and weight reduction, holes are made on the spoke plates, and large-diameter sprockets can be made of Combined type, the ring gear and wheel core can be made of different materials, such as C45, stainless steel and other materials.

3. Sprocket material, the sprocket material should ensure that the gear teeth have sufficient strength and wear resistance, so the sprocket tooth surface is generally heat treated to achieve a certain hardness.

Maintenance

1. The tightness of the sprocket should be appropriate. If it is too tight, the power consumption will be increased, and the bearing will be easily worn; if the sprocket is too loose, it will be easy to jump and fall off the chain.

2. The sprocket should be installed on the shaft without swinging and skewing. If the offset of the two wheels is too large, it is easy to cause off-chain and accelerated wear. Care must be taken to check and adjust the offset when replacing sprockets.

3. After the sprocket is severely worn, the new sprocket and the new sprocket should be replaced at the same time to ensure good meshing.

4. If the new sprocket is too long or stretched after use, it is difficult to adjust. The chain link can be removed according to the situation, but it must be an even number.

5. The sprocket should be filled with lubricating oil in time during work. Lubricating oil must enter the matching clearance of the roller and the inner sleeve to improve working conditions and reduce wear.

6. The old sprocket cannot be mixed with some new sprockets, otherwise, it will easily cause shock during transmission and break the sprocket.

7. When the machine is stored for a long time, the sprocket should be removed and cleaned with kerosene or diesel oil, then coated with oil or butter and stored in a dry place.