Sprocket Tooth Design for Trenching Equipment

Cogmatic Lets Customer Focus
on the Big Picture

CASE STUDY #3 – Sprocket Teeth Were Breaking

Customer:

A major manufacturer of trenching equipment.

Challenge:

The customer had field problems that involved teeth breaking off of the crawler sprockets they were fabricated in their own facilities. These sprockets propel the undercarriage assemblies used to drive a variety of large commercial trenching machines. After a number of attempts to correct the manufacturing difficulties, they were looking for a company with expertise in crawler sprocket design – with tooth profile design expertise.

In fact, a company executive said, “Why don’t we stick to what we do best and find a company whose business it is to know how to fabricate quality crawler sprockets?”

Cogmatic Solution:

The customer was familiar with Cogmatic since they already fabricated sprockets used elsewhere in their machines. They came to Cogmatic for advice and eventually contracted with Cogmatic to fabricate their crawler sprockets instead of doing them in-house. After reviewing their sprocket tooth profile design and recommending a design solution, Cogmatic now produces crawler sprockets for four different undercarriage assemblies and will soon add several more new products.

Field product failures have ceased, warranty issues for this problem have been dramatically reduced, and Cogmatic further strengthened a relationship with a valued customer.

The Rest of the Story:

September 25, 2012, Customer Follow-up

We have also helped this customer with a large sprocket that had been machined internally. The customer’s equipment was old and not doing a very good job. Plus, they needed the additional manufacturing space.

Now, we make their special sprocket for a lug-less chain, which runs smoother with less wear than their in-house manufactured part. The client gained floor space and saved money.