Gear production process

This disclosure relates to the bonding of polymer rings to metallic hubs, and, more particularly, to a process for manufacturing polymer/metal disks that are capable of being machined. A process for manufacturing polymer/metal disks in a single piece batch size comprises applying a bonding agent to a metallic hub, pressing a polymeric ring over the metallic hub to form a ring/hub assembly, and heating the ring/hub assembly to cause bonding to occur between the polymeric ring and the metallic hub. The bonding agent may either be sprayed or applied directly to the metallic hub. Other methods of application may also be employed, such as dipping of the metallic hub in the bonding agent. The bonding agent is generally an organosilane, although other compounds capable of bonding a polymer to a metallic substrate can be used. The pressing of the polymeric ring over the metallic hub comprises enlarging the polymeric ring and mounting it over the metallic hub. The enlargement of the polymeric ring is typically effectuated either with heat or by stretching. The application of heat to the ring/hub assembly softens a surface layer of the polymeric ring to allow the softened polymer to flow into a textured surface of the metallic hub and harden, thereby retaining the polymeric ring on the metallic hub.