Gears are one of the most critical components in many mechanical products. Specialized gears are often required to ensure that a machine functions properly. Engineers who design these custom gears rely on reputable fabrication shops to manufacture each gear required. If you have identified a need for custom gears in your production activities, the design of these gears will be critical. 

1. Production Method

There are two primary methods of production when it comes to manufacturing custom gears — mold injection and machining. It's important that designers take these options into consideration when engineering a custom gear. Each production method has limitations that could affect the viability of a design.

If you are planning to utilize mold injection to produce the gears you need, the gear will need to have a continuous design. The design of a machined gear should be influenced by the tooling capabilities of the manufacturer.

By designing custom gears with the intended production method in mind, engineers can create a viable design that will be easy to reproduce in the future.

2. Cost

Cost is always a concern when manufacturing custom parts. It's important that the fabrication company responsible for creating your custom gears is involved in the design process. Engineers can consult with fabricators to determine the cost limitations of specific design features.

If you need to have your custom gears reproduced on a large scale, cost will have a significant impact on the viability of any future production runs.

When cost informs the design of a custom gear, these custom components can be manufactured without compromising the profitability of the machines in which they will be installed.

3. Performance

The performance of a machine can depend on the quality and design of the gears that help power it. An engineer must keep performance requirements in mind throughout the design process.

Each gear should be designed with strict tolerances that will ensure the custom gear is capable of performing properly once it has been installed. Several drafts may need to be created in order to hone in on the best design for a custom gear.

Be prepared to refine and edit your design in order to create a custom gear with the exact specifications required to maximize machine performance.

The process of generating custom gears begins with the creation of a design. Take production method, cost, and performance into consideration throughout the design process to minimize challenges once your custom gears are in production.

For more information, reach out to a custom gear manufacturer.