dan21703
Mechanical
- Oct 2, 2005
- 16
I changed the material for a gear without appropriate due diligence. When reviewing the project I realized the oversight.
The original gear was 4615 heat treated Rc 55-60, with an unknown process. It is driven by a 4615 carburized idler gear. I changed the material to 41L40 pre-hardened Rc28-32. The original design would run 40 years without noticable wear. The gear is shock loaded. During initial tests the part appears to perform adequately. It is a little difficult to get a handle on the load which will be on this gear as it is driving a cutting wheel.
I fear the gear may fail by wear due to the carburized material being much harder.
It would be convenient to nitride the gear and stay with 41L40. Or should I be considering another material. The gear is part of a long shaft nominally 2" diameter.
I may be in trouble with this customer if I am not able to proactively address this problem if there is one.
The original gear was 4615 heat treated Rc 55-60, with an unknown process. It is driven by a 4615 carburized idler gear. I changed the material to 41L40 pre-hardened Rc28-32. The original design would run 40 years without noticable wear. The gear is shock loaded. During initial tests the part appears to perform adequately. It is a little difficult to get a handle on the load which will be on this gear as it is driving a cutting wheel.
I fear the gear may fail by wear due to the carburized material being much harder.
It would be convenient to nitride the gear and stay with 41L40. Or should I be considering another material. The gear is part of a long shaft nominally 2" diameter.
I may be in trouble with this customer if I am not able to proactively address this problem if there is one.