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Stainless Steel Spiral Bevel Gear

Q: Can the gears be used in food plants?

Stainless steel is widely used for food grade equipment. Tell us the requirement and the lubricant you plan to use.

Stainless Steel Spiral Bevel Gears for Wet, Corrosive and Hygienic Duties Where Ordinary Steel Gears Would Rust.

Specifications
Gear Type	Spiral bevel, shaft angle 90° unless the drawing says otherwise
Made To	Customer drawing, CAD model or worn sample
Supplied As	Matched gear and pinion set, or single gear on request
Inspection Record	Dimensions, hardness and tooth contact on request
Grades	SS304, SS316, SS410, SS420
Typical Use	Marine, food, chemical and washdown drives

For Corrosive and Wet Duty

Stainless steel gears are chosen when rust would damage the gear or contaminate the product: marine and offshore auxiliaries, food and beverage lines, chemical dosing equipment and machines that are washed down.

Choosing the Grade

SS304 and SS316 resist corrosion very well, with SS316 better against chlorides and seawater, but they cannot be hardened by heat treatment, so their load capacity is lower than an alloy steel gear of the same size. SS410 and SS420 are martensitic stainless steels that can be hardened and tempered, giving higher strength and wear resistance with somewhat lower corrosion resistance. We help you decide between corrosion resistance and load capacity.

Design Points

Stainless steels gall easily when two similar surfaces rub, so the pinion and gear should not be made from the identical grade in the same condition, and a suitable lubricant is important. Lower torque ratings are normal. Tell us the duty and the environment, and we will tell you if stainless steel is the right choice or whether a coated alloy steel gear would serve better.

What We Need

Drawing or sample, grade, quantity, and a note on the environment: fresh water, seawater, chemicals or food contact.

Related: stainless steel bevel gears and the marine industry.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which stainless steel is best for gears?

It depends on the duty. SS316 for the best corrosion resistance, SS304 for general use, and SS410 or SS420 when the gear must be hardened for higher load.

Are stainless steel gears as strong as alloy steel gears?

Not usually. Austenitic grades such as SS304 and SS316 are weaker and cannot be hardened. We suggest a larger size or a hardenable grade for heavier loads.

Can the gears be used in food plants?

Stainless steel is widely used for food-grade equipment. Tell us the requirement and the lubricant you plan to use.