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Unexpected use of FR2 of the week: Phenolic gears
(aussie.zone)
FR2 is the brownish material that many cheap circuit boards are made of. It's a mixture of phenolic resin and paper. Apparently it's quite useful to make gears out of:
Phenolic Gears exhibits superior shear force, help reduce machinery noise, absorbs destructive vibration unlike metal gears, phenolic is non-conductive, protects the mating metal gear train, and are known to outlast metal gears under severe continuous service. (source: https://www.knowbirs.com/phenolic-gears )
Has anyone seen these used anywhere? I've read a hint regarding pool equipment, but I have never seen them there. I assume the fibres allow them to last longer than plastic/resin only gears.
Old big EMCO lathes had phenolic gears in their gearbox. I know because I got to rebuild one and that was one surprise I came actross and that day I learned about phenolic gears.
Probably also useful as a safety shear point. Better to grind a phenolic gear to dust that to break something expensive.
Also I will never forget the smell of the gear oil.