A closer look at industrial chain performance

Today’s industrial chain drives use a roller chain to transmit power from one sprocket to another by means of tensile forces. Like all mechanical power transmission equipment, it is designed to meet certain performance objectives. But not all chains are created equal. 

Chain performance

It’s important to take a look at the performance criteria of a chain to ensure it’s the appropriate one for your application. Chain performance can be broken down into four categories:

• Wear resistance: How fast the chain elongates in operation.
• Fatigue strength: The maximum load that may be applied for which fatigue failure will never occur. This is often referred to as working load or maximum allowable load.
• Tensile strength: The minimum continuous load that will cause a new chain to fail.
• Corrosion resistance: The ability for a chain to maintain its constituent structure in corrosive environments.

And when chains aren’t performing as they should, there are several factors to consider:

• Technical specification: Examine the features and design of the chain and understand what performance objective the specific chain is meant to address.
• Product selection and suitability: Consider whether the original chain selection is technically sound, and whether it meets the specific requirements of the application.
• Installation accuracy: Was care taken when installing the chain to ensure optimal performance?
• Maintenance practices: Is the chain subject to adequate care and inspection during operation? Do maintenance staff have an adequate understanding to maximize chain life.

Industry leader

Tsubaki manufactures reliable chains to surpass the technical requirements of any application. The company produces many different types, sizes and varieties of drive, conveyor and engineered class chain to meet its customers’ needs by maximizing power transmission and increasing output productivity. 

To learn more about the company’s high-quality offerings, contact Tsubaki.

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