Design engineers face continuous pressure to enhance product performance while driving down costs. For many devices, converting metal components to plastic is an effective way of achieving both goals.

Stillwater, MN-What's it going to be, metal or plastic? Gear design can make this already-tough question even tougher. "Most engineers have little or no experience with plastic gears, and they make ...

This article was updated March 6, 2023. It was originally published Aug. 1, 2001. Gears—even plastic ones—need to be lubricated if engineers are going to coax the best performance out of them. In the ...