Rail technology: maintenance-free polymer gears support track switching

Railway points are used to reduce interruptions to railway journeys. They are used for the seamless transition of railway vehicles from one track to another. The functionality of switches in rail transport is, among other things, a basic prerequisite for the smooth running of passenger and freight transport.
The use of our wear-resistant iglidur® i3 gear contributes to a high service life of the application.

What was needed: iglidur® i3 gear
Requirements: The railway points are exposed to harsh environmental conditions such as dirt, moisture and temperature fluctuations. The gear must therefore be extremely robust
Industry: Railway technology
Customer success: iglidur® i3 gears are robust, wear-resistant, corrosion-free, lightweight and lubrication-free. They are also very insensitive to dust and dirt and simply absorb shocks and impacts.

The challenge

The metal gears used there require the use of external lubricants. This means that regular maintenance has to be carried out, which costs a lot of time and money. In addition, there is a risk that a lack of lubricant can lead to failures.

Solution

With the help of 3D printed gears made of iglidur® i3, downtimes are reduced, as they have very good emergency running properties and can be used without external lubricants. Another advantage is that the iglidur® gears are corrosion-free.
In addition, the 3D printed spare parts are available from igus® within 1-3 days no minimum order quantity.