Roller chain products to reduce maintenance costs, increase productivity and prolong chain life
FB Chain’s range of industrial roller chains including stainless steel roller chain is manufactured from highly engineered components to International standard ISO R606 and American Standard ANSI b 29.1
Roller chains are a type of mechanical power transmission system that have been widely used for decades across various industries. They offer several advantages that make them a popular choice for transmitting power and motion in different applications. You will find roller chains or drive chains in many industries including food and beverage, packaging, printing, textile, sawmill and pharmaceutical industries. Despite many improvements in other transmission products, roller chains are still be most efficient way to transmit large amounts of power.
High Efficiency: Roller chains are designed with minimal friction, resulting in high power transmission efficiency. This efficiency is crucial in applications where energy conservation is essential, as it reduces power losses and improves overall system performance.
Robust and Durable: Roller chains are built to withstand heavy loads and harsh operating conditions. The construction typically involves durable materials, such as high-grade alloy steel, which provides excellent resistance to wear, fatigue, and corrosion. As a result, roller chains have a long operational life, reducing maintenance requirements and downtime.
Cost-Effective: Compared to some alternative power transmission methods, roller chains are relatively cost-effective. Their straightforward design and manufacturing process make them an affordable option for a wide range of applications, making them ideal for both small-scale and large-scale projects.
Wide Range of Sizes and Configurations: Roller chains are available in various sizes and configurations to suit different power transmission needs. This adaptability allows engineers and designers to select the appropriate chain size and pitch for specific applications, ensuring optimal performance and safety.
Simple Installation and Maintenance: Installing and maintaining roller chains is relatively straight forward. Once properly installed and adequately lubricated, they require minimal attention during operation. Routine maintenance involves periodic lubrication and inspection for signs of wear, making them convenient for operators and maintenance personnel.
Shock Absorption: Roller chains have a certain amount of flexibility, which enables them to absorb shocks and vibrations during operation. This feature is particularly useful in applications where sudden load changes or uneven forces may occur.
Versatility: Roller chains can be used in a wide variety of applications, including conveyor systems, industrial machinery, agricultural equipment, motorcycles, and bicycles, among others. Their versatility stems from their ability to handle different load capacities and accommodate diverse environments.
Compact Design: Roller chains have a compact and lightweight design, making them suitable for applications with limited space constraints. Their small footprint allows for efficient integration into various machines and systems.
High Speed Capability: Roller chains can handle high rotational speeds effectively, making them suitable for applications requiring fast and precise motion transmission.
Global Availability: Due to their widespread use and popularity, roller chains and their components are readily available worldwide. This accessibility simplifies sourcing, replacement, and maintenance, regardless of the location of the equipment.
In conclusion, roller chains offer a range of advantages that make them a reliable and preferred choice for mechanical power transmission systems. Their high efficiency, durability, cost-effectiveness, and versatility ensure their continued relevance and application across numerous industries and applications. Proper selection, installation, and maintenance of roller chains can lead to improved performance, reduced downtime, and increased overall efficiency of mechanical systems.
Who Invented roller chain?
Crediting a single inventor of modern industrial chain is also impossible due to the nature of scientific discovery in the past. In today’s highly connected world where we can access almost any information at the click of a button, it seems strange to think of inventors making similar advances and discoveries completely independent of each other. But historians have noted many instances of this occurring and there may be even more given how difficult and costly it was to register a patent before the mid-19th century.
Chain during the Industrial Revolution
While many machines worked on belts and gears, there is no doubt that several types of chains were used in industry and machine manufacturing throughout the Industrial Revolution. The Manchester Central Library, for example, holds a document titled ‘Historical Development of Chain Types 1835-1880’.
The first patent for chain we would recognise today as modern leaf or tooth chain was awarded to French engraver André Galle in 1829. After the death of his daughter, his manufacturing company closed and his patents were sold but Galle chain is still widely used for low-speed heavy-duty back-and-forth applications, such as sluice gates and steel furnace doors. Read More…
Find the roller chain you need using the Roller Chain Selector
Finding the right chain you need couldn’t be easier when using the FB Roller Chain Selector. Just enter the dimensions from the drop down menus and it will find it for you.
How is roller chain constructed?
There are various types of roller chain available to suit different applications, the size of chains required often change dependant the speed and load to be transmitted. All roller chains however have the same components:
Inner Plates: These are flat metal plates with holes through which the bush is pressed. Inner plates alternate with outer plates to form the chain.
Outer Plates: Similar to inner plates, outer plates are also flat metal plates, but they have slightly smaller holes to accommodate the bearing pin.
Rollers: Rollers are cylindrical components that sit between the inner plates. They are designed to reduce friction and wear by allowing the chain to roll smoothly over sprockets or gears.
Bearing Pins: Bearing pins are cylindrical pins that connect the inner and outer plates. They go through the bush in the inner plates and fix firmly in the outer plate to produce the articulating joint.
Bushings: Bushings are tubular components that sit inside the roller and on top of the bearing pin, between the inner plates.. They reduce friction and wear by providing a smooth surface for the roller to rotate within the inner plates.
Master Link (Connecting Link): The master link is a specialized outer plate that has removable pins or clips, allowing for easy assembly and disassembly of the chain. It is used to connect the two ends of the chain together.
Side Plates: Some roller chains have side plates that run parallel to the inner and outer plates. These plates provide additional protection and support for the chain.
Chain lubrication
Proper lubrication of roller chain drives is an important factor in getting the best possible performance from drive systems. No matter how well a transmission system is designed, if it is not properly lubricated its service life will be shortened. Incorrect or insufficient lubrication is one of the primary reasons for premature roller chain wear and eventual failure.
The key reason for lubricating the chain bearing surfaces is to minimise wear elongation of the chain components as a result of direct metal to metal contact resulting in increased friction. Chain elongation is primarily caused by wear between the bearing pin and bush during articulation. As well as preventing premature elongation, good lubrication also reduces noise levels and cools down the chain when running at high speed.
It is important to use the correct viscosity lubrication for roller chain. Generally heavy oils or grease are not suitable as a chain lubricant. Whilst many chain drives operate in normal ambient temperatures, some need to operate outside of these parameters often operating in higher or lower temperatures or damp conditions. In these environments it is vital that a lubricant that can operate effectively is selected.
Finally, it is important to select the right lubricant for roller chains in order to minimise wear and tear. A lubricant with high adhesive and cohesive properties is usually the best choice, as it helps to reduce friction while also helping to keep dirt and debris away from the chain. Water-resistant grease or oil is often used in outdoor applications where the chain may come into contact with water or moisture. For indoor applications, a light oil such as machine oil can be used. Regardless of the type of lubricant chosen, it should be applied regularly to ensure the chain is kept clean and functioning optimally.
Most roller chain drives will greatly benifit from the use of an automated lubrication system with our www.rotalube.com. With an automatic or centralised lubrication system the right amount of oil or grease is supplied at the right time automatically. Therefore, production does not need to be stopped to apply lubrication to the moving chains, nor does an operator need to risk injury to apply it manually.
How to easily identify roller chain
When working at customers’ locations, we always have a lot of chain catalogues on hand to aid in roller chain identification. With catalogues displaying several customised attachments and extended pins, identifying a roller chain may initially appear very difficult. However, the great majority of roller chain is based on just two primary standards: Read more…
My chain has elongated. Why?
The wear on drive chains is the elongation that gradually grows longer over time as a result of wear on the pins and bushings. When the material of the chain wears away, there is more space between the pin and the bushing. This causes the chain to get longer since there is more space than necessary between the pin and the bushing. This result is the chain riding higher on the sprocket teeth, which decreases the chain’s efficiency and increases the likelihood that it will skip teeth or leap off the sprockets. This phenomenon is often referred to as chain stretch which technically it is not. There are many referances on the internet how much worn a chain should be before it is replaced. For roller chain we recommend 1.5% from its initial length but long chains and drive chains moving at high speeds may need reaplacing earlier.
Tools like the FB Chain Wear Gauge which accurately measures roller chain wear and indicates the percentage of elongation are invaluable in indicating when it’s time to replace your roller chains before a sudden breakage due or damage to sprockets. The accumulative effect of leaf chain wear is a significant increase in the actual pitch of the leaf chain. www.fbchain.com/chain-wear-gauge
Roller chains do elongate but for what reason?
On the other hand, roller chains are prone to wear and elongation over time, which can cause a reduction in efficiency, a rise in maintenance costs, or even the total failure of the system. In light of this, what are the typical causes of roller chain elongation and wear as well as viable solutions to these issues? Read more…
Chain standards
The following three main chain standards cover transmission roller chains, attachments, and sprockets. These standards are predominantly dimensional and the main goal is to assure interchangeability between chains, sprockets, and chain links as supplied by different manufacturers. The standard do not give any indication to the chain’s quality.
ISO 606:2015 – Short-pitch transmission precision roller and bush chains, attachments and associated chain sprockets
ASME B29.1 Precision Power Transmission Roller Chains, Attachments And Sprockets
JIS B 1801 Short-pitch transmission precision roller chains and bush chains
If you’re looking to identify an existing chain you should also be aware that there are a large number of work standards or special chains which have been made by a particular chain manufacturer or to suit the specific requirements of an individual machine producer.
There are also some chain series which look very similar dimensionally to chain in the standard but due to the use of special materials and manufacturing process have very different performance characteristics one of the best examples of this is ASA 80 Heavy Duty roller chains, which a number of manufacturers have at least five different versions.
Standard roller chain
This common style of chain offers a dependable method for transferring power to various kinds of moving elements. Since their creation, these well-known and typical forms of chains have been a feature of conveyor, automobile, food and beverage, and farming equipment. Through the use of efficient heat treatments and 100% lubrication methods, roller chains provide remarkable strength and endurance.
Roller chains are great for use in high-stress environments because they can withstand even the most demanding circumstances, such as extremes in temperature or usage that involves frequent starts and stops.
Roller chain with attachments
Roller chain attachments are specialized components used in roller chain systems to enhance the functionality of the chain in various applications. Attachments are additional components that can be added to certain links of a roller chain to adapt it for specific tasks or functions beyond simple power transmission.
Roller chain attachments are available in various materials, sizes, and configurations to match the specific requirements of different applications. They play a crucial role in enhancing the versatility and adaptability of roller chain systems, allowing them to perform a wide range of tasks beyond simple power transmission.
How much is your roller chain really costing you?
It can be tempting to focus mainly on the initial cost when buying a new roller chain. Simply pick the lowest price, purchase a large quantity of chain, and your task is complete. But is it?
For many customers of industrial chains, choosing a less expensive choice may ultimately wind up costing them more money once the continuous running expenses are taken into account. The total cost of ownership (TCO) should also be taken into account. Read more…
How do I assess chain wear?
Most roller chain drive applications, on average, can be thought of as being worn out at a length increase of roughly 1.5%.
Over time and with continued use, some chain wear will develop, lengthening the chain. It’s crucial to look for signs of wear on the tips of the sprocket teeth if there is a rapid rise in elongation. Excessive elongation could be a sign that it’s time to replace the chain and/or sprockets because they’ve reached the end of their useful lives.
All lube-free chain needs to have its wear frequently inspected as well. Read more…