Showa Denko K.K., Kitagawa Industries Co. and Seiko Instruments Inc. said Wednesday they have jointly developed the world's smallest plastic gear mechanism in cooperation with Shinshu University Professor Morinobu Endo.
The gear mechanism uses a nylon and vapor-grown carbon nanofiber composite material, which facilitates its injection into micropart moldings and allows the reproduction of tiny, delicate shapes, the three companies said.
Based on this nanocomposite material characteristic, the gear mechanism has advanced mechanical properties, including high resistance to abrasion and heat, antistatic qualities and low friction.
The gear mechanism has a diameter of 0.2 mm. The module is just 0.025 mm and the shaft is 0.09 mm. It has six cogs and drives the second hand of a watch through an intermediate gear made of the same nanocomposite material.
Targeted applications include office automation equipment and other precision instruments, as well as medical equipment and automobile parts.