Design World

  • Home
  • Technologies
    • ELECTRONICS • ELECTRICAL
    • Fastening • joining
    • FLUID POWER
    • LINEAR MOTION
    • MOTION CONTROL
    • SENSORS
    • TEST & MEASUREMENT
    • Factory automation
    • Warehouse automation
    • DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
  • Learn
    • Tech Toolboxes
    • Learning center
    • eBooks • Tech Tips
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Webinars • general engineering
    • Webinars • Automated warehousing
    • Voices
  • LEAP Awards
  • 2025 Leadership
    • 2024 Winners
    • 2023 Winners
    • 2022 Winners
    • 2021 Winners
  • Design Guides
  • Resources
    • Subscribe
    • 3D Cad Models
      • PARTsolutions
      • TraceParts
    • Digital Issues
      • Design World
      • EE World
    • Educational Assets
    • Engineering diversity
    • Trends
  • Supplier Listings
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe

A Smarter Approach to Identifying Sprocket Wear

By Sponsored content | June 16, 2021

Over time, the sprocket tooth profile area gets worn down by the chain roller. The reduction in the sprocket tooth profile area can result in poor fit and alignment, accelerating chain wear. This can eventually lead to tension loss, slippage, a jumped chain, and costly downtime.

“Worn parts that are not replaced correctly in a timely manner will cause a ‘chain-reaction’ resulting in ancillary damage to connected components, increased labor, higher maintenance costs, more unscheduled down time, and potentially an inferior manufactured product,” says Derek Glugosh, Tsubaki Sprocket Product Manager.

A jumped chain could be a sign your sprockets need to be replaced. You might be tempted to remedy this situation by simply shortening the number of links in the chain to prevent the chain from coming off. But this is a temporary fix that increases the load on the bearings and accelerates chain wear. The worn sprocket will continue to damage the chain and associated equipment until it is replaced.

If you’re not sure whether your sprockets need to be replaced, here are a few signs that might indicate a problem:

  • Loose or wobbly sprockets on the drive shaft, which might be caused by a worn bore, key, or shaft.
  • Wear on one side of the sprocket plate, which usually indicates misalignment.
  • Wear on the working faces of the sprocket teeth, which could be a sign of inadequate lubrication. Watch for scratches, galls, grooves, or visible changes in the tooth shape, such as hooked or shark fin shapes.

Tsubaki’s Smart Tooth® Sprockets allow users to easily identify signs of wear and schedule drive system maintenance before critical failure occurs. Strategically placed wear indicator pins provide a visual indication that a sprocket is either still within the allowable wear tolerance, or that it needs to be replaced.

“When you factor in the cost of replacing other critical drive system components, or the event of non-scheduled downtime, implementing Tsubaki Wear Indicator sprockets makes sense,” says Glugosh. “By using a sprocket with strategically placed wear indicator pins on the thrust faces of the tooth, the maintenance technician has a visual warning of excessive wear. It allows for the scheduling of maintenance rather than run-to-failure.”

Tsubaki specializes in designing and manufacturing high-quality sprockets for a variety of applications and offers additional troubleshooting and on-site services to avoid problems such as misalignment, excessive wear, noise, and more.

To learn more about Smart Tooth Sprockets, download the brochure or contact us today.

Request A Quote  

Learn More  

Sponsored content by US Tsubaki

You Might Also Like


Filed Under: US Tsubaki Sponsored Content
Tagged With: US Tsubaki
 

LEARNING CENTER

Design World Learning Center
“dw
EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND STAY CONNECTED
Get the latest info on technologies, tools and strategies for Design Engineering Professionals.
Motor University

Design World Digital Edition

cover

Browse the most current issue of Design World and back issues in an easy to use high quality format. Clip, share and download with the leading design engineering magazine today.

EDABoard the Forum for Electronics

Top global problem solving EE forum covering Microcontrollers, DSP, Networking, Analog and Digital Design, RF, Power Electronics, PCB Routing and much more

EDABoard: Forum for electronics

Sponsored Content

  • Sustainability, Innovation and Safety, Central to Our Approach
  • Why off-highway is the sweet spot for AC electrification technology
  • Looking to 2025: Past Success Guides Future Achievements
  • North American Companies Seek Stronger Ties with Italian OEMs
  • Adapt and Evolve
  • Sustainable Practices for a Sustainable World
View More >>
Engineering Exchange

The Engineering Exchange is a global educational networking community for engineers.

Connect, share, and learn today »

Design World
  • About us
  • Contact
  • Manage your Design World Subscription
  • Subscribe
  • Design World Digital Network
  • Control Engineering
  • Consulting-Specifying Engineer
  • Plant Engineering
  • Engineering White Papers
  • Leap Awards

Copyright © 2025 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search Design World

  • Home
  • Technologies
    • ELECTRONICS • ELECTRICAL
    • Fastening • joining
    • FLUID POWER
    • LINEAR MOTION
    • MOTION CONTROL
    • SENSORS
    • TEST & MEASUREMENT
    • Factory automation
    • Warehouse automation
    • DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
  • Learn
    • Tech Toolboxes
    • Learning center
    • eBooks • Tech Tips
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
    • Webinars • general engineering
    • Webinars • Automated warehousing
    • Voices
  • LEAP Awards
  • 2025 Leadership
    • 2024 Winners
    • 2023 Winners
    • 2022 Winners
    • 2021 Winners
  • Design Guides
  • Resources
    • Subscribe
    • 3D Cad Models
      • PARTsolutions
      • TraceParts
    • Digital Issues
      • Design World
      • EE World
    • Educational Assets
    • Engineering diversity
    • Trends
  • Supplier Listings
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
We use cookies to personalize content and ads, to provide social media features, and to analyze our traffic. We share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising, and analytics partners who may combine it with other information you’ve provided to them or that they’ve collected from your use of their services. You consent to our cookies if you continue to use this website.OkNoRead more