International Journal of Mechanics and Design
Mechanical and Thermal Performance Comparison of Nylon 6 and PET Spur Gears via Fusion 360 Finite Element Simulation
1 Student, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University B.D.T College of Engineering, Davanagere, Karnataka, India.
Abstract
| *Author for CorrespondenceSiddesh BE-mail: [email protected] Student, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University B.D.T College of Engineering, Davanagere, Karnataka, India. Received Date: October 29, 2025Accepted Date: November 07, 2025Published Date: November 17, 2025 Citation: Siddesh B. Mechanical and Thermal Performance Comparison of Nylon 6 and PET Spur Gears via Fusion 360 Finite Element Simulation. International Journal of Mechanics and Design. 2025; 11(2): 1–7p. |
Abstract
Polymer gears are increasingly used in engineering applications as lighter, quieter, and corrosion-resistant alternatives to traditional metal gears. This study offers a comprehensive comparison of spur gears fabricated from Nylon 6 and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic, both simulated using Autodesk Fusion 360’s finite element analysis (FEA) environment. A 24-tooth spur gear was designed and analyzed under identical static structural and steady-state thermal conditions, including a 500 N tangential load. Both materials exhibited the same maximum deformation of 0.076 mm; however, Nylon 6 showed superior mechanical resilience, with a higher safety factor (3.63 vs. 2.86). PET, in contrast, exhibited better thermal conductivity and specific heat, implying better thermal stability under continuous operation. This study supports informed decision-making in material selection for polymer gear applications based on mechanical and thermal trade-offs.
Keywords: Spur gears, Nylon 6, PET plastic, finite element analysis, Fusion 360, thermal simulation, gear design