Objective Objectives and content Polymer gears have unique advantages over metal gears. Innovations in materials technology, design and manufacture continue to extend their potential. This programme seeks to define more clearly the limits to gear performance, and in so doing enable optimum gear sets to be designed. It is intended to target specific performance enhancements in the areas of power transmission, noise emission and transmission accuracy through novel developments in gear design, materials formulation and selection and through new manufacturing processes. Polymer and polymer composite gears have the following advantages: Low cost when injection moulded. Light weight, low inertia. Low coefficient of friction. Can function without external lubrication. Quietness of operation. Uniformity of parts. Corrosion resistance. Inherent compliance absorbs shock and vibration. Through good choice of materials, lubricant, gear configuration, novel tooth geometries and moulding conditions, leading particularly to surface engineering for minimising wear, it is believed that the power transmission levels for a given size may be significantly enhanced. Whilst this goal is of general interest to manufacturing industry, it will have significant impact in automotive engineering where there is constant pressure for lower weight and cost. Ultimately it is intended to demonstrate the use of non-metals in automobile driveline components which, for Partner I (an automobile manufacturer), would provide cost and weight advantages and potential for reduced noise emissions. For Partner 2 (a manufacturer of office machinery) and Partner 3 (a manufacturer of actuators, principally in medical applications) the requirement is also to reduce size and increase power density although the main requirements are for lower noise pollution of their customers' environments, and the reduction of gear induced vibrations leading to positional errors. The consortium reflects the entire gear manufacturing process and includes a leading manufacturer and supplier of polymer composite compounds, a leading technical moulder and supplier of gears, a university specialising in materials research and a university involved in nonmetallic gearing. The results of the project will be: Increase in transmissible powers, loads and speeds -- - increased market/more applications Reduction in gear noise and vibration --- increased market/environmental benefits Smaller systems --- cost reduction Design guides and software tools --- reduced time to market/increased confidence New gear materials and processes --- new markets This project addresses the Brite Euram areas 2.2.1.L 2.1.3.S 2.2.2.S and 2.2.1.S Fields of science engineering and technologymechanical engineeringmanufacturing engineeringengineering and technologymechanical engineeringtribologylubricationengineering and technologymaterials engineeringcompositesnatural scienceschemical sciencespolymer sciencesengineering and technologymechanical engineeringvehicle engineeringautomotive engineering Programme(s) FP4-BRITE/EURAM 3 - Specific research and technological development programme in the field of industrial and materials technologies, 1994-1998 Topic(s) 0202 - New methodologies for product design and manufacture Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinator Rover Group Ltd. Address Bandury road, lighthorne CV33 OBL Warwick United Kingdom See on map EU contribution € 0,00 Participants (6) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all CTP Davall Ltd. United Kingdom EU contribution € 0,00 Address Travellers lane AL9 7JB Hatsfield See on map Linak A/S Denmark EU contribution € 0,00 Address 8,smedevanget 6430 Guderup See on map OCE TECHNOLOGIES B.V. Netherlands EU contribution € 0,00 Address 43,st. urbanusweg 43 5900 MA Venlo See on map Polypenco B.V. Netherlands EU contribution € 0,00 Address 2,anthony fokkerweg 7602 PK Almelo See on map UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM United Kingdom EU contribution € 0,00 Address Edgbaston B15 2TT Birmingham See on map Université Catholique de Louvain Belgium EU contribution € 0,00 Address 7180 Seneffe See on map
