If you have a bicycle or motorcycle or a piece of equipment in the factory, most likely it has a sprocket. But did you ever wonder what an RS sprocket is?
An RS sprocket is a toothed wheel that mates with a chain that is used to transmit power in a machine, industrial equipment, cars, bikes, and other vehicles. RS sprockets are made of steel and are pressed from blank steel and CNC machined to specification following an international standard like ANSI, or ISO.
What does a sprocket do?
The sprocket can provide power transmission within a piece of equipment and transmit the power to where is needed by a chain. Depending on the speed, torque and other parameters an engineer can choose a sprocket for a wide range of applications. They are used where gears cannot or do not need to be meshed together. By changing the number of teeth or diameter will give an entirely different range of speed and torque. Bicycle chains and conveyor belts are the most widely used examples of where a sprocket is used.
The use of chains and sprockets
The transmission mechanism composed of a chain and sprocket is one of the most important structures in mechanical transmission. Its advantage is that the distance between two shafts is greater than the radius of the two sprockets that can be used. And the same chain can drive more than two sprockets to rotate at the same time. This is just something other transmission mechanisms cannot. In addition, the sprocket transmission mechanism does not slide or slip when it is running. So its speed ratio is correct, and its chain tension is smaller.
Another benefit is the bearing load is lighter and it is not easy to be damaged. The sprocket is not affected by cold, heat and humidity. It is commonly used in internal combustion engine engines of vehicles and ships, power transmission of precision machinery, and even in lifting and handling machinery.
What is the difference between a sprocket and gear?
The biggest physical difference between sprockets and gears can be seen from the teeth. For example, in a bicycle sprocket, the shape of the teeth must be such that it perfectly fits the notch, hole or slot on the object to be moved.
The gears interact with each other, so the design of the teeth can be changed. For example, if this saves some space, the teeth can be located on the inside of the wheel.
Sprockets are also more sensitive to damage. Consider two sprockets, which move and guide the bicycle chain. If one or two teeth are broken or damaged, the chain is more likely to loosen or slip to the side. If the gear loses one or two teeth, a small amount of power may be lost, but the gear will continue to rotate and work.
How to determine the sprocket specifications
Customers can find the most suitable standard sprocket in four ways: classification, model, specification, and strength. Use the modulus, number of teeth, material, hole diameter, accuracy and other factors to lock, and then the customer can select the desired sprocket or gear. If the strength is especially important, after the gear type is selected, the gear that meets the conditions is directly locked by inputting the transmission strength type and load.
What are sprockets made of?
Most sprockets are usually made from an alloy steel and the teeth are heat treated or tempered and surface hardened to enhance the wear resistance of the material. By construction, the sprocket either has a hub with a key for driving or has a hole for installation (in a car).
- Cast iron sprocket
Cast iron is the most common and economical material used for sprockets. They are precisely cast from high-grade iron. Other diameters can be provided according to special requirements.
- Plastic sprocket
All plastic sprockets are fully machined and you may select from Nylon or POM.
- Steel sprocket
All steel sprockets can have their teeth hardened as required.
- Stainless steel sprocket
Material for Sprockets
| ANSI/SAE | JIS |
| SS400 | |
| S41C | |
| 1020 | S20C |
| 1045 | S45C |
| 4118 | SCM415 |
| SCM420 | |
| 4320 | SNCM420 |
| 8620 | SNCM220 |
| 4140 | SCM440 |
| 4340 | SNCM439 |
| MC901 | |
| SUS304 | |
| SUS316 | |
| FC20/25/30 |
How are RS sprockets made?
Shey Lee has its own manufacturing capabilities, including CNC milling, turning, VTL vertical lathes, gear hobbing, tapping, grinding, polishing and welding. In addition, we also have our own material preparation center, including flame cutting for thick steel plate processing. There are also thousands of square meters of factory area and automatic inventory system, allowing us to quickly manufacture your sprockets and ship them on time!
There are large CNC milling machines and lathes in the workshop to prepare RS sprockets and gears for secondary processing. They are processed to the required precision. Most sprockets are processed from steel plates or rods. The blank is pressed and then prepared for further processing according to specifications. Some RS sprockets or gears may have more complex part geometries, and we have a large number of lathes in our processing shop.
The gears and RS sprockets then undergo gear cutting using our in-house gear hobbing machines for accurate and precise production of parts we make. In our machine shop, there are also well-equipped milling centers to process your sprockets and gears to your exact specifications. We can make small, medium, or large custom sprockets.
CNC Vertical Milling of RS Sprocket video
Heat Treatment For RS Sprocket
Once the sprockets are machined they are ready for hardening of the teeth. This is done by Induction Heating. Once the RS sprockets or gears are fully manufactured and quality inspected, we carefully pack and store them in our warehouse facility. We utilize an Automated Inventory AS/RS System. To learn more about this amazing system that can process 1.2 tons of sprockets every 3 minutes,
click here. https://youtu.be/OP2RrqOTR8U
Quality Inspection For The Segmental Sprocket
At Shey Lee, we follow international standards to create the best sprocket and gear kits for your advanced equipment and machines. All parts that are packed and ready for shipment undergo strict quality checks to ensure your parts perform at the highest standards. At Shey Lee, we check your parts every step of the way during processing.
At the end of the process, we do a final quality check with advanced measuring tools to make sure our parts have been machined and produced to the correct specifications from the drawings. Then we pack everything in quality sealed packaging for the safe transport of your investment.
How to package and ship?-we custom make the hoisting points for the sprocket so it can be lifted safely, and also with special safety devices in case the sprocket tips over it is not damaged. And custom made wooden pallets/cases.
