We will not do used gears because used gears usually have wear ridges in them. The Mikronite process is a surface finishing process that strengthens the outer surface of the material like shot peening but provides a "high-luster" super smooth finish that reduces friction and noise. IT IS NOT A COATING!!! It adds strength in the outer .010 - .014" of the material (verified by x-ray diffraction). Strength in the outer skin of the material is like the strength in a monocoque chassis or an airplane fuselage.
If we processed a used gear set we would make those wear ridges very hard and they would become like hard file teeth and would destroy the rear end. We only want our customers to have success not "self destruct"!
This process has many unique capabilities and that is why it is being used on military applications, many different racing applications (there really are some speed secrets...at least for a little while!), industrial (one company has reduced the number of gun drill bits from 7000/yr to 700/yr), medical, aerospace and others. It is significantly different from REM. Not that REM is bad, but REM does not impart residual compressive stresses in the surface and near surface substrate. Those residual stresses are what strengthen the material. That is what you get in shot peening, but shot peening looks nasty compared to Mikronite. Hope this clears things up a little. If not, come to my seminar at the PRI Show in Orlando. It's Friday, Dec 15 at 9:00AM.
Mark Campbell
VP, Market and Product Development
Crane Cams Inc. |