Browse technical articles in this archive.
Engineering context Material selection should begin with the part’s load, environment and interface rather than with a familiar polymer name. Stiffness, creep, impact, moisture, temperature, chemicals, wear, flame/electrical...
Read articleStart from the mechanism A strong RFQ makes technical risk visible before price is discussed. Suppliers need enough information to distinguish a prototype from a repeat-production project and...
Read articleFrame the problem correctly A DFM review should expose geometry that affects tooling, filling, cooling, ejection and inspection before steel is committed. The goal is not to simplify...
Read articleWhat changes the engineering choice Glass-fibre reinforcement can increase stiffness, but it also changes molding behavior and the way the part interacts with mating surfaces. Fibre orientation, gate...
Read articleDecision first Ribs and bosses should add function without creating unnecessarily thick local sections. In molded housings, abrupt thickness changes can affect cooling, sink and warpage. Bosses also...
Read articleEngineering context Conveyor drive components see continuous alignment, contamination and wear conditions that should be defined before material selection. Plastic sprockets, gears and guides may be attractive for...
Read articleStart from the mechanism Automation gear trains need repeatable mesh across reversals, indexing and changing duty cycles. The gear pair, shafts, bearings and housing all contribute to backlash...
Read articleFrame the problem correctly Packaging machines combine repeated cycling with tight timing and compact layouts. Plastic gears can be useful in feeders, indexing modules and adjustment mechanisms when...
Read articleReference point: ANSI RS40 roller chain uses a 0.500 in (1/2 in) pitch. Tooth count, strand arrangement, bore, hub and duty still need to be defined for the...
Read articleDecision first Plastic sprocket selection starts with the exact chain geometry. Chain series, strand count, tooth count and shaft connection define the sprocket before material is considered. The...
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