Thread: Phosphor Bronze

Is there a substitute to use for Phosphor bronze as a washer.

Depends on the intended use.

It is the outside washer on a moving rod, doesn't have any pressure on it, it is just a retaining washer.

Originally Posted by Auskart

It is the outside washer on a moving rod, doesn't have any pressure on it, it is just a retaining washer.

by moving, do you mean rotating? if so what RPM?

reciprocating like a conrod, would estimate max rpm would be 200 rpm

I am not sure you could not use steel for that. Low revs, low pressure - why not?

Cheers
Roger

Originally Posted by rcaffin

I am not sure you could not use steel for that. Low revs, low pressure - why not?

Cheers
Roger

I was looking at using some left over Stainless Steel I have laying around or case hardening a piece of mild steel.

NOT stainless steel. It is too soft and prone to galling.
Case hardened MS would however be fine. Quite possibly ordinary polished MS might also do fine. To be honest, I would bung an ordinary steel washer in and see how it goes.

Cheers
Roger

What size washer is it? I have some left over Phos bronze here (38mm diameter I think) so could make something up if it was not too big.

Michael

Originally Posted by Michael G

What size washer is it? I have some left over Phos bronze here (38mm diameter I think) so could make something up if it was not too big.

Michael

Hi Michael, the washers are 26mm diam x 7mm wide, they are the washers on the outside of the cranks of a model Steam Train. They are a machined washer that is held on by a retaining bolt, they are not shaped like a normal washer. There are 6 of them.

Cheers Shane.

Clearly, we need photos of the Steam Train.
Cheers
Roger

Originally Posted by rcaffin

Clearly, we need photos of the Steam Train.
Cheers
Roger

Only have the frames, wheels and axles done at the moment, will look into getting a few pictures.

forum 1.jpg

and this is how the completed train looks.

forum 2.jpgforum 3.png

Just out of curiosity, where does the washer go?
Cheers
Roger

Originally Posted by rcaffin

Just out of curiosity, where does the washer go?
Cheers
Roger

This is one of the original construction photo's and it goes at the tip of the red arrow.

100_2743 - Copy.jpg

oookkaayy
A good steel disk would be fine there. However, have you thought of using UHMWPE instead? Something like Polystone 1000 (green). It is used to line huge mining dump trucks. The steel buckets used to wear out in 12 months; the Polystone liners last for years. Hard to imagine, but it works. Lacking high pressures, such a washer would last 'for ever' there.
Cheers
Roger