Modern types of plastic and polymers make it possible to use them not only as seals, but also to make gears from them. This opens up many opportunities for engineers, but also many challenges. The main problem was the lack of suitable lubricants. Conventional products intended for metal are not suitable, as they can corrode plastic, change its structure and physical properties. Therefore, special types of funds have been developed. Lubrication for plastic gears allows you to achieve the necessary lubricating properties, protect the material from external factors and provide minimal friction.
Features of the use of grease for plastic gearsMany people think that if gears are made of plastic, they don't require lubrication. Unfortunately, this often leads to damage and premature wear of the mechanisms. Plastic grease should be used on almost all types of plastic gears, as it provides the following functions:
- ensures a long service life of plastic gears and prevents premature wear;
- ensures stable operation of mechanisms without interruption;
- prevents the occurrence of unpleasant noises and squeaks, providing almost silent operation;
- keeps the working surface of rubbing parts intact, without roughness and abrasions;
- prevents deformation of the working elements of gearboxes and the occurrence of cracks;
- protects nodes from the influence of external factors, especially high and low temperatures.
There is a misconception that plastic gears can be lubricated with conventional lubricants. It is absolutely impossible to do this, as negative consequences are possible.
Even universal compositions cannot guarantee high efficiency. The effects of conventional blends on plastics can have the following effects:
To date, plastic gears are used in various fields:
- computer equipment, especially servers;
- office equipment, including printers and scanners.
- multimedia equipment, the work of which is based on rotational mechanisms;
- printing equipment, copiers and devices for large format printing;
- in some nodes of cars;
- cash registers;
- food equipment, including conveyors, mixing and handling equipment.
- kitchen appliances;
- medical equipment;
- children's toys, radio-controlled models of aircraft and cars.
Particular attention is required for lubricants for plastic gears intended for medical and food equipment, since not only mechanical requirements are set for them, but also hygienic ones.
How to choose?Before buying oil, you need to study all varieties, determine what it is for and make sure that it meets the following requirements:
When choosing a lubricant, it is important to consider the type of working mechanisms and the conditions under which they operate. Given this, several types can be distinguished:
For the lubrication of plastic gears, it is better to choose compounds from world brands that have specialized in the development of compounds for many decades. Among the most common are the following:
Cannot be used for food processing equipment and in open gearboxes. The analogue is Silicot silicone grease.
The service life of plastic mechanisms directly depends on their care. Choosing a quality lubricant will allow you to achieve optimal, trouble-free operation and save money on repairs.Better find real type lubes
O-2 (liquid yellow) (shaft),
O-12 (liquid transparent (more viscous than O-12)) (gear axles),
G-26 (thick white) (shaft (rubbing), gears),
G-58 (thick pink) (gears, etc.)
If there is no way to get such things -
some of the liquid lubricants are ideal: silicone grease, teflon oil
from thick ones (lithols will not go - they are quite reactive) - as already mentioned - honey vaseline
;) I'll add to FreeKnight's answer But how I do it myself:
O-2 (liquid yellow) (shaft) - Epson high-speed coolers and shafts - matrix and jet (felt impregnation under P / G, 5-6 drops along the length of the shaft)
O-12 (liquid transparent (more viscous than O-2)) (gear axles) - I don’t know, we have WHITE GREASE, MOLYKOTE X5-6020, UKOG-0158FCZZ this is a silicone grease, for low-speed coolers, shafts, etc.
G-26 (thick white) (shaft (rubbing), gears) - yes, but I do not use it.
G-58 (thick pink) (gears, etc.) - yes, Epson C42-84 carriage movement (mounting) and sliding, etc.
GuestYura_*
Has anyone come across such a "fuel oil"?
SP5539 / 284 g
Silicone grease STEP UP
Water-repellent, heat-resistant, universal protection for metal, rubber and plastic. Forms on the processed surface the thinnest, super-slippery corrosion-resistant protective layer with 100% water-repellent properties, efficient from -50°C to +220°C. Contains WetOut Silicone Moisture Displacer. It is actively used in everyday life: it lubricates, protects locks, door and window hinges from freezing and corrosion. It is used as a universal lubricant for motorcycles, bicycles and household appliances. Adds water repellency to shoes.
It burns, when applied, it quickly evaporates, even on the cylinder it is written that it is impossible to lubricate electric motors with it. I’m thinking whether it’s worth lubricating the shaft with it or not: -X
For the test, I lubricated the guide on the roller cutter with it, the impressions are the most favorable, there is no lubrication as such (evaporated), but the handle slides perfectly.
| Message Sent 09 April 2007 - 22:14 YuHa
I guess like this:
The most problematic place in an inkjet printer is the guide rod (or guide skid). Due to the ingress of dust, the lubricant turns into an abrasive, which must be removed from time to time. It is better to lubricate with lubricants (thick) based on silicone, if the PG bushings are not bronze-graphite.
The rest is not worth brushing. It seems to me that there is enough lubrication for the entire real service life.
@)-->-- I beg to disagree with YuHa in the aspect "The rest is not worth smearing. It seems to me that there is enough lubricant there for the entire real service life." Printers are brought in for repair, where the lubricant from pale pink and pale blue colors turns into gray-dirty colors and begins to noticeably creak, I can’t say 100% for sure, but there are also grains of sand, and just working out from the guides.
And when you clean the whole thing and lubricate it with a new one, then everything becomes much better. All printers without CISS. ;)
GuestYura_*
In those places where the factory grease remained, it thickened, so I removed it and sprayed it with silicone, it seems that the printer began to work somehow softer when the paper pulls and the pump works: -X. Plus, this fuel oil cleans, i.e. it first washes away the dirt, and then evaporates forming the very “Super-slippery protective layer”. I wanted to lubricate the shaft with it precisely because it will not collect dust, but after several photos of A4, a creak appeared, in short, thick grease is still needed for these purposes.
I don’t know how the printer is, but the cutter that I processed with this silicone definitely began to work better :)
@)-->-- I repeat, but still
O-2 (liquid yellow) (shaft) - Epson high-speed coolers and shafts - matrix and jet (felt impregnation under P / G, 5-6 drops along the length of the shaft).
Having previously removed the remnants of the old lubricant with a dry cloth (I use lint-free for optics from copiers). And I wipe it with alcohol so that it is completely clean. Next, I remove the felt from under the carriage, the one between the shaft and the carriage, turn it over, 2-3 drops on it and collect it. And everything becomes as good as new, white and fluffy. IMHO! And so on until the next time, or until the change of the shaft, carriage or head, then who knows. @)-->--
I don't want to go into terminology again, although it should be clarified that the word "cooler" means a cooler. Usually, this is a bunch of radiator-fan. In life, this bunch cannot be high-speed. :)
This is my only comment on TuMyPuK's post.
For the rest, I agree with him. Half. :)
......................
There is something to talk about in the topic, to argue, like, but I have a request to the mega-moderator: to consider removing the punishment from the previously "distinguished" participants.
@)-->-- YUHa, thanks for the support and for "There is something to talk about in the topic, to argue, like, but I have a request to the mega-moderator: consider removing the punishment from the previously "distinguished" participants. " But still there are rules, and I am their violator, and the "flags" will remove the numbers that way on the 16th, so I'm not worried about this. Naturally, "cooler" meant - FAN, but thanks for the comment. With this grease "O-2" I lubricate the fan impeller rods in plain bearings at a speed of more than 2500 revolutions, such as, for example, Thermaltake. For some of these reptiles are spinning at 5500 rpm. Whoever heard it spread - he will not forget! And for example, on power supply fans I use MOLYKOTE X5-6020 in a 50g can. Silicone as stated non-drying, has actually been used in my power supply for 2 years.
TuMyPuK, my computer uses a boxed version of the fourth Pentium.
Four years - no fan lubrication. Previously, there was a second Pentium, then a third. Also boxing. And I didn't bother with lube either.
I try to buy additional fans with rolling bearings. A little more noisy, but less problems.
As for the names of "branded" lubricants, the situation here is similar to "branded" inks - you can't find a "firm" in the village, but what is offered under the "firm" usually does not turn out to be one.
Here, joining the post, YUHi would like to ask a question:
“Since you won’t find firms in the village,” you can’t find such lubricants as described here during the day with fire ... And my R220 printer, 2 months old, whistled when the carriage moved, and continues ... the lubricant is noticeable in places where the carriage stops ... but then why does this creak occur? What can be lubricated? In principle, it doesn’t really interfere, but the creak just doesn’t appear and doesn’t pass without a trace.
I tried to find silicone grease or a spindle in our village - also a disastrous thing: (Litols, as it was written at the beginning of the topic, are destructive.
@)-->-- YUHa - with all due respect. BOX fans from Intel is a thing for almost the entire life of the computer. They are not intended for additional lubrication. It has a lifetime composite lubricant, just like sealed bearings. And, I agree, they are less noisy. We are talking about lubricants for shafts and guides. So, we ourselves do not live in Moscow either, and Zip-Zip is not around the corner. But still there are those in the city who are engaged in copying equipment! so you can ask them or order through them? The men in the services are usually accommodating, if you humanly ask! Or am I wrong? >:o
The need for lubrication of gear mechanisms is obvious. This reduces friction, wear, and increases the performance of mechanisms. Depending on the design of the unit (crankcase or “dry”), the lubrication method also changes.
In the first case, liquid oil is poured into the assembly, in the second, grease is used, which is held on the gears.
Just like on metal components, plastic gear grease can be thick or thin. There is an opinion that gears made of PTFE or Teflon are anti-friction in themselves.
Is there a special lubricant for plastic gears?Almost all manufacturers of lubricants have in their assortment formulations for plastic and composites based on it. Theoretically, standard greases for universal use can be used. However, not all of them normally interact with plastics.
Interestingly, some traditional lubricants that have proven themselves in metal gears have a destructive effect on plastic gears. For example, when using, the teeth wear off, as if an abrasive paste is being applied.
For this reason, special adapted compositions are produced for plastic gears of gearboxes and worm gears. 
Another technical nuance: plastic gearboxes heat up more than metal gear pairs. This is due to the low thermal conductivity of plastic: heat is not removed from the working area.
Therefore, a high temperature plastic gear lubricant must retain its basic properties, both cold and hot.
Application of grease for gears made of plastic- multimedia equipment using outdated media (CDs, cassettes) that use rotation mechanisms;
- computers, servers (CDs);
- computer peripherals: scanners, printers, game controllers;
- printing equipment: plotters, large-format printing devices, copying equipment;
- office equipment: copiers, MFPs;
- cash registers;
- cooking mechanisms: for example, coffee makers;
- Medical equipment;
- air modeling.
Given the application areas, specialized greases must meet more than just mechanical requirements. In medical and food units, sanitary and hygienic certification is required. Therefore, such compositions, by definition, cannot be cheap.
Common lubricants for plastic mechanisms Silicon Fett from Liqui Molyperfectly adheres to the surface, repels water. Properties are maintained over a wide temperature range. Due to its good tack, it does not spatter at high speeds.
This composition has a long service life: the replacement is not due to aging, after a few years of use, the lubricant dries out naturally.
It interacts neutrally both with pure plastic and with transmission pairs made of various materials: plastic + metal, plastic + rubber. 
note
The only restriction: it cannot be used in the food and medical industry if the gear mechanisms are not in a sealed area.
Another product from Liqui MolyThermoflex Spezialfett. It is a multi-purpose grease that can work in both metal and plastic gears. The undoubted advantage of this composition is the preservation of viscosity at low temperatures.
However, with strong heating, the lubricant does not hold well on the surface of the gears. Therefore, it is not suitable for high speed gearboxes. Not a food product. 
Good choice for local production. It is used mainly for aircraft modeling, so the release form is quite compact. 
This grease withstands high temperatures and rotational speeds. In addition, it adheres perfectly to the teeth, and does not splatter. The limitation is traditional: the lubricant is not food grade.
For example, OKS 1110. The instructions indicate the application: sealing mechanisms. In fact, such lubricants work great on gear pairs.
OutcomeIf your plastic gearbox or worm gear works occasionally, you can get by with inexpensive silicone grease or a simple one.
And at high temperature and high-speed loads, it is necessary to carefully select the composition of the lubricant according to its characteristics.
The world of printer lubricants is a mess right now. Printer lubricants are usually sold by parts dealers who have no idea what they are doing or why, so they can easily sell lubricant for old Xerox copiers under the guise of thermal film lubricant for modern Hewlett Packard printers. At the same time, the prices for lubricants border on the prices of precious metals.The Oltar company, together with the representative office of the world-famous manufacturer of lubricants Molykote, decided to bring order to the issue of sales of lubricants for printers on the Russian Market. All lubricants offered are tested and recommended by experienced Molykote technicians and not by homegrown parts dealers. You can be sure of your choice.
The main types of lubricants used in Hewlett Packard laser printers.
1. Lubrication of gears of reducers, where the latter rotate at an average speed with a temperature effect of up to 80 °C. The load on the gears is uniformly rotational. In this regard, HP grease works perfectly. This lubricant is not available for sale. Instead, various lubricants are sold that satisfy the tasks at 50 - 70%. As a rule, sellers have no idea what they are selling, what properties and durability their product has.
2. Thermal film lubricants. HP uses a unique lubricant that is perfectly matched to the application. The lubricant does not flow, has negligible viscosity, does not evaporate, does not lose its mechanical and chemical properties over the course of years. The thermal film rotates solely due to the pressure of the Teflon-coated rubber roller and does not have any gears. Works at temperatures up to 240 degrees, has several basic types. Grease for thermal films is a separate issue. Buying it is not realistic. On the Russian market, there are either mediocre lubricants that can work for a limited time at temperatures up to 200 degrees or just a frank surrogate, after which blurry images appear, paper jams in the oven, image repetitions and others. Typically, after 700 - 1200 copies, such a lubricant turns brown, becomes sticky, viscous and slows down the rotation of the thermal film.
3. Lubricant used in oven gears (image fusing units). This is the most difficult case. Gears work with vector or directional load. In addition, gears operate at sharp temperature changes and at speeds much higher than average. From 20 to 120 degrees. HP uses the same lubricants as in point 1. This approach is fundamentally wrong. Lubrication is squeezed out of the teeth and the gears work no more than 50 - 70.000 copies. The problems of these lubricants are clearly shown in Fig 1, Fig 2.
4. Lubricants for bushings, bearings, teflon-rubber shafts of stoves. Hewlett Packard generally does not use any lubricants in fusing bushings. In modern high-speed laser printers, this leads to the fact that after 30 - 60 thousand copies the bushing is eaten out by 1 - 2 mm, the rubber roller sags, the film falls to one side and eats its edge. The gears begin to work on the edges of the teeth with a lot of noise, turning into a loud crack. The printer is broken and needs repair.
Oltar offers the following types of lubricants for printers.
1. For lubricating gears of gearboxes, as well as for lubricating oscillating units of stoves and gears of rubber shafts of fusing units - Molykote EM-50L grease.
Unlike conventional lubricants, the proposed lubricant works up to 150 degrees Celsius, does not thicken over time, is not afraid of temperature changes and does not lose its properties over time. This lubricant can be used on both plastic and metal gears.
2. Lubricant for thermal films of printers, both polymer and aluminum. Grease type - Molykote HP-300 Grease. The grease works at temperatures up to 280 degrees, does not evaporate, does not change physical and chemical properties over time. The lubricant does not become sticky and does not slow down the movement of the thermal film, the image is not smeared. The lubricant is universal and can be used both in home class printers such as HP LJ 1012, and in powerful modern printers such as HP LJ P4515 with a print speed of 45 sheets per minute. Lubrication is also good because even if the thermal film is punctured, it continues to work. While other lubricants under the influence of the toner begin to crystallize and cut the rotating film from the inside.
The grease is excellent for bushings of rubber shafts of printer ovens, does not corrode plastic bushings and does not introduce additional heating into the aluminum shafts of the printer rotating under high temperature. Lubricant does not destroy the protective layer - aluminum oxide!
