• TOPICS
    • Design
    • Manufacturing
    • Inspection
    • Heat Treating
    • Lubrication
    • Materials
    • The Gear Industry
    • Gears by Type
  • MAGAZINE
    • Current Issue
    • Departments
    • Archives
    • Subscribe
    • Advertise
  • NEWSLETTER
    • Subscribe
  • VIDEO
    • Gear Technology TV
      • Ask the Expert Live
      • Revolutions
    • Industry Videos
  • BLOGS
  • BUYER'S GUIDE
  • NEWS and EVENTS
    • Product News
    • Industry News
    • Events
  • ADVERTISING
    • Brand Awareness
      • Print: Display Advertising
      • Online: Web Banners & Keyword Banners
      • Online: Native Advertising (Sponsored Content)
      • E-mail: Custom, White Papers & Webinars
      • E-mail: Newsletter Sponsored Content (Native Advertising)
    • Response & Lead Generation
      • Online: Sponsored Content (Native Advertising)
      • E-mail: Newsletters
      • E-mail: Newsletter Sponsored Content (Native Advertising)
      • E-mail: Custom, White Papers & Webinars
      • Online: Buyers Guide
    • Print Advertising
      • Print: Display Advertising
      • Print: IMTS Showstoppers
      • Print: Buyers Guide
      • Print: Manufacturing sMart
      • Print: Specifications
    • Online Advertising
      • Online: Web Banners & Keyword Banners
      • Online: Native Advertising (Sponsored Content)
      • Online: Buyers Guide
      • Online: Specifications
    • E-mail Advertising
      • E-mail: E-Newsletters
      • E-mail: Newsletter Sponsored Content (Native Advertising)
      • E-mail: Custom, White Papers & Webinars
      • E-mail: Specifications
    • Special Promotions
      • Print: IMTS Showstoppers
      • Print: Buyers Guide
      • Print: Manufacturing sMart
  • CONTACT US
  • AGMA
    • Membership
    • Events
    • Education
    • Emerging Technology
    • AGMA Media
    • Standards
Subscribe
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Home » Blogs » Gear Talk With Chuck » Innovation in Mature Products

Gear Talk With Chuck
Gear Talk With Chuck RSS FeedRSS

Design / The Gear Industry / Reliability / Sectors / Automotive
Charles schultz
Chuck Schultz is a licensed engineer, Gear Technology Technical Editor, and Chief Engineer for Beyta Gear Service. He has written the "Gear Talk with Chuck" blog for Gear Technology since 2014.

Innovation in Mature Products

April 20, 2017
Charles D. Schultz
No Comments
Many people look back fondly on the days of the annual model change in the automobile market. Car dealerships would cover their display windows and cars would be transported in enclosed vans to preserve the surprise. Almost military discipline was maintained, so the occasional leaks or spy photos just added to the fun. Gone are the days when car-obsessed kids could identify a car’s make, model, and year of production from the taillights on a dark night. Under those ever-changing cosmetic features, the basic design of cars did not change very much; “all new” seldom applied to the engine, transmission, or suspension. And when it did, the results were often not good for “early adopters.” In some ways it was way too early for fuel injectors, turbochargers, independent rear suspensions, sleeveless aluminum blocks, and automotive diesels — and consumers paid the price. I was knee-deep in the oil field “pump jack” market in the very early 1980s when the advantages of carburized, hardened, and ground gearing were first applied to that mature market. On paper it made perfect sense; the power density of the new technology had the potential to cut the weight of the pump jack gearbox dramatically. Modern hobbers and grinders could reduce the cycle time dramatically over the ancient herringbone clunkers we were using. A revolution seemed imminent — right up until the teeth started popping off. A misunderstanding of the impact load from horse head pumps always falling on the same teeth resulted in massive warranty claims and a distrust of carburized gearboxes in the oil patch that is only now going away. The lesson I took away was to spend more time studying what is already working before starting a new design. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” remains good advice in most cases, but new materials, new processes, and new machinery are constantly changing the economics of mature products. A good engineer will find a way to improve the end product without sacrificing reliability.

Recent Comments

Thank you for this - Happy Saint Patrick's...

Post a comment to this article

Report Abusive Comment

Free Gear Technology Subscriptions
Subscribe
Free Gear Technology Subscriptions
Subscribe
FEATURED VIDEO
  • Laser Gear Inspection with Douglas Beerck of Gleason
February 28, 2022
RECOMMENDED
  • Hardness Testing Gears — Know Your Options for Best Results

    April 25, 2022
    Starrett1.jpg
  • Kapp Niles Examines Intelligent Rolling Grinding for E-mobility

    April 25, 2022
    Opening Image.jpg
  • The New Age of Bronze

    April 25, 2022
    Barton1.jpg
  • Making Gear Grinding Transparent

    May 19, 2022
    Picture6.png
  • LPC Carburizing: The Affordable Alternative to Gas Carburizing

    April 25, 2022
    Nitrex2.jpg
  • Making Gear Grinding Transparent

    May 19, 2022
    Picture6.png
  • LPC Carburizing: The Affordable Alternative to Gas Carburizing

    April 25, 2022
    Nitrex2.jpg
  • Hardness Testing Gears — Know Your Options for Best Results

    April 25, 2022
    Starrett1.jpg
  • Subscribe
  • Advertise
  • Contribute
  • AGMA
Powered byAGMA
Copyright © 2022 Gear Technology
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact