How to Choose the Material for the Motor Gears of a Miniature Gear Motor

A miniature gear motor consists of a miniature motor and a reduction gearbox. The reduction gearbox includes motor gears, transmission gears, gear shafts, housing, bearings, lubricant, and other parts. The material of each part affects the performance and quality of the miniature gear motor.

In a miniature gear motor, the motor is the power source, and its speed is very high. Therefore, the choice of material for the motor gears fixed to the motor shaft is crucial. The following factors should be considered when selecting materials:

A. Using metal for the motor gears of a miniature gear motor results in a machined metal gear with an interference fit to the motor shaft. Even if the motor gears heat up during high-speed operation, they will not loosen. However, metal gears are expensive to machine, and production capacity is limited for mass production.

B. Using plastic for the motor gears of a miniature gear motor, typically POM, because POM has self-lubricating properties. It is important to note that to prevent the plastic gears from loosening due to thermal expansion during high-speed operation, the motor shaft should be knurled or made with a D-fit and interference fit.

C. The motor teeth of miniature geared motors are made of powder metallurgy, typically copper-based powder metallurgy. This material offers the advantages of metal machining while also solving the problem of mass production and reducing costs. However, when it comes to helical gears, machining with powder metallurgy is quite difficult.