Very few machines can operate without the use of friction gears. The gear is a round wheel-shaped piece, usually manufactured from metal or plastic, that contains teeth or cogs. These teeth, in turn, interact with the teeth of other gears within the machine to create a rotary action that carries the work from gear to gear by surface friction between the parts.

Although people associate frictioned gears with automobiles, companies manufacture, supply and sell friction gears for industries as diverse as agriculture, aerospace, home appliances and commercial factories. For a selection of friction gear systems, consider the following categories for your business:

1. Suppliers of friction gears for bicycles

2. Friction gear suppliers for automotive transmissions

3. Friction gear manufacturers of custom gears

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Seek suppliers of friction gears to meet cyclists' needs

If you run a business that sells or repairs bicycles, your customers range from those who prefer a single-speed bicycle to those who desire a wide range of speed controls. Hard-core riders lean toward friction gears, citing their ease and dependability in the long run; they also prefer being able to mix and match parts from various makers.

I recommend: Buy friction gears from Yellow Jersey; the company carries equipment for bicycles ranging from single speed, five speed, and even up to 30 speed. Biznetmall sells 4-cycle engine kits that you can attach to bicycles for customers; the gears have a lifetime warranty.

Find friction gear manufacturers for automotive transmissions

Manufacturing gears for the friction gear transmission systems in automobiles involves such processes as milling and turning the metal and using gear cutters to create the teeth of appropriate size. Companies which manufacture friction gears for transmissions also do failure analysis and meet American Gear Manufacturers' Association standards for production.

I recommend: Turner Uni-Drive makes transmission gears with a shaft diameter of 1.000 inch to 2.875 inch and a maximum output torque of 570 pounds/inch to 40,000 pounds/inch. Cincinnati Gearing Systems creates gears for friction gear transmissions systems in diesel engines as well as automotive.

Design custom friction gears for your business machinery

In addition to bicycles and automobiles, entrepreneurial businesses require friction gears for machinery they develop for special applications. Among the specialized gears possible are: spur, spiral bevel, helical and straight bevel. You may need to specify weight, shaft diameter and output torque the gears will withstand, as well as positive speed selection and reversing ratios.

I recommend: Arrow Gear has a reputation for producing customized, high-precision products for the global market. Carlisle Industrial Brake & Friction makes a variety of friction products, including the world’s largest molded friction gear tooth facings; they have a 62-inch diameter and a 3-inch depth.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  To learn the latest about standards, seminars and meetings related to friction gears, the American Gear Manufacturers' Association is a good source. This association is responsible for sharing information related to designing and testing of gears. It sets the standards for gears in the United States.