What are the materials and manufacturing processes of automotive gears?

Source: Zhejiang Jinchi Machinery Co.,Ltd.Release time: 2025-09-01

The material and manufacturing process of automotive gears are crucial for their performance and durability. The following are commonly used materials and manufacturing processes for automotive gears:

Material selection

Steel: The commonly used materials for automotive gears are various types of steel, including carbon steel, alloy steel, and special alloy steel. These materials have high strength, hardness, and wear resistance, and can withstand high loads and repeated stresses.

Cast iron: Some types of gears, especially those that withstand large impact loads, may use cast iron materials.

Powder metallurgy: Powder metallurgy technology can produce gear materials with special properties, such as high wear resistance, low density, etc.

Surface treatment: Gear surfaces may undergo hardening treatments such as carburizing, nitriding, or carbonitriding to improve wear resistance and fatigue resistance.

manufacturing process

Forging: Gear blanks are usually manufactured through forging processes to improve the strength and toughness of the material.

Turning: On forged or cast gear blanks, excess material is removed by turning to form the basic shape of the gear.

Grinding: Grinding is a precision machining process used to finish the tooth surface of gears, ensuring the accuracy and smoothness of the gears.

Gear machining: Gear machining is the process of forming the tooth profile of gears through cutting or forming techniques such as hobbing, hobbing, grinding, etc.

Heat treatment: Heat treatment processes such as annealing, normalizing, tempering, quenching, and tempering are used to improve the mechanical properties of gears.

Surface treatment: As mentioned earlier, surface treatment can improve the wear resistance and fatigue resistance of gears.

quality control

Precision measurement: The dimensional and shape accuracy of gears is crucial, therefore high-precision measuring tools and equipment are needed for quality control.

Dynamic balance: For high-speed rotating gears, dynamic balance testing is necessary to ensure that excessive vibration is not generated during the rotation process.

Performance testing: Gears need to undergo performance testing, such as durability testing, noise testing, and vibration testing, before mass production.

The manufacturing of automotive gears is a complex process that requires precise craftsmanship and strict quality control. Choosing appropriate materials and manufacturing processes can ensure the durability and reliability of gears, thereby improving the performance of the entire transmission system.