ABSTRACT
Powder metal (PM) is commonly used for manufacturing different types of gears, sprockets, and pump gears as well as a multitude of other components. In order for the technology to be cost competitive, there are a few general guidelines that apply to powder metal parts in general, but also for powder metal gears. When it comes to the selection of material for a particular gear, it depends on the process path for the gear. The process path in its turn is set by the strength requirements that have been calculated in the design phase. Sometimes, the available process equipment also influences the choice of material and there may be several production paths that will work with varying alloying compositions. The lubrication of the powder in the compaction process has several purposes and influences. The primary function is to lubricate the die walls in the compaction tooling to keep wear low and to avoid seizure during ejection.
