English (UK) 
简体中文 I. Precise positioning: the differentiated value of the 1.6x speed chain
The 1.6x chain is often regarded as a "middle-of-the-road" choice in the chain family, but in reality it isEngineering Optimal Solutions for Light to Medium Duty Scenarios. Its core strengths are:
- The golden ratio of speed and stability: Sacrifices 30% of speed compared to a 3x speed chain in exchange for a 50% reduction in chain wear rate, while maintaining a 60% higher conveying efficiency than a single speed chain;
- Structural Adaptation Breakthrough: By optimising the ratio of roller diameter (D) to roller diameter (d) (D/d = 0.6), the risk of roller interference in high-multiplier chains is circumvented within the standard pitch.
personal viewpoint: The birth of 1.6x reveals the underlying logic of industrial design-When technical parameters are infinitely close to the limit, applicability is the real competitiveness.A power plant had used 3 times the speed of the chain, but due to frequent start and stop, the roller chipped. A power plant had used 3 times the speed of the chain but due to frequent start-stop caused roller cracking, changed to 1.6 times the speed of the failure rate decreased by 76%, confirming the "moderate growth rate" of engineering wisdom.
II. Structural innovation: synergistic design of lightweight and rigidity
The 1.6x chain solves the pain points of light and medium load (<800kg) scenarios through three innovations:
1. Composite roller system
- outer layerGlass Fibre Reinforced Nylon (GF-PA66), with a weight reduction of 40% and an improved abrasion resistance of 0.8;
- lining (of a container etc) (engineering): Thin-walled stainless steel sleeve (0.5mm) maintains compressive strength of 120MPa and avoids the risk of creep in engineering plastics.
2. Asymmetric chain plates
- The inner chain plate is thickened to 1.8mm to resist stretching, and the outer chain plate is thinned to 1.2mm to reduce the self-weight, so that the weight of one metre of chain is controlled at 6.2kg (8.7kg for 3 times speed chain);
3. Dynamic lubrication channels
Micro oil grooves are opened inside the pin (3) to introduce lubricant into the gap of the sleeve (2) using the pump effect when the chain is bent, making 8000 hours of maintenance-free possible.
III. Control system: a model of low-cost intelligence
The PLC control of the traditional timespeed chain accounts for over 25% of the cost, while the 1.6 timespeed chain through theMechanical closed-loop controlRealisation of equivalent functions:
- Mechanical Feedback Governor
- Using the displacement of the tensioning wheel to trigger the centrifugal pendulum, when the chain load > 500kg automatically reduces the motor speed 15% to avoid overload slippage;
- Pneumatic Memory Blocker
- The work plate (2) compresses the air cavity when hitting the blocking bar, and achieves the second slow stop through pneumatic energy storage, with the positioning accuracy of ±1.5mm, and the cost is only 1/3 of the electric blocker;
- Passive guides
- The V-guide groove is fitted to the 45° tangent angle of the rollers (6) so that an automatic return torque is generated when the runout is >2mm.
IV. Application Scenarios and Cost Effectiveness: Efficiency Levers for SMEs
The 1.6x speed chain demonstrates dominant price/performance in three major areas:
- Consumer Electronics Assembly Line::
Load weight <20kg in mobile phone assembly, 1.6 times the speed makes the beat compressed from 45 seconds to 32 seconds, and at the same time to avoid SMT chip components due to high-frequency vibration deflection; - Medical Device Packaging Line::
Stainless steel chain + food-grade grease combination, through the GMP certification, and noise <55dB better than the operating room standard; - Cross-border e-commerce sorting centre::
With the dynamic weighing module, the sorting cost of parcels under 5kg is 0.12 yuan/piece (0.27 yuan/piece for traditional roller line).
Whole life cost comparison (5-year cycle)
| norm | 3x Chain | 1.6x chain | Magnitude of advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| energy costs | $180,000. | $98,000 | ↓45% |
| Chain replacement cost | $140,000. | $63,000 | ↓55% |
| Combined failure losses | $230,000. | 51,000 | ↓78% |
V. Exclusive foresight: the hidden technological dividend of the 1.6x speed chain
The current perception of 1.6x chains in the manufacturing industry is still that of a "transitional product", but two technological evolutions are reshaping their value:
- Carbon Fibre Mixed Weave Chain Plate::
Experimental data from a Japanese company shows that the fatigue life of 1.6x chain is increased to 120,000 hours by carbon fibre/aluminium alloy laminated chain plate, and it can be compatible with 3x working conditions without replacing the guide rails to achieve "two speeds in one chain"; - The Renaissance of Mechanical Intelligence::
While the industry chases IoT control, a logistics company reached a 99.41 TP3T run rate with a purely mechanical 1.6x chain, which countered the 91.71 TP3T of the smart chain. this validates theThe irreplaceability of mechanical certainty in light load scenarios--The simpler the need, the more absolute reliability is required at the physical level.
anti-consensus insight: The endgame for 1.6x chains is not to be replaced by high-multiplier chains, but to be theSpeed base for modular conveyor systems-- By changing the roller assembly (D/d value adjustment), the same chain can be switched between 1.6 and 2.5 times the speed, providing the lowest cost retrofit path for flexible production lines.
Ask yourself the core question.
Q1: Why is 1.6x more suitable for light to medium load scenarios?
→The roller diameter of the 3-fold chain is too large (D/d ≥ 2.5) resulting in insufficient contact area at light loads.The 1.6 times speed of D/d=0.6 increases the contact area by 70%, which significantly improves the conveying stability.
Q2: How can 1.6x chain achieve 55% lower maintenance cost than 3x chain?
→Engineering plastic rollers account for 83%(3 times the speed of the chain for the steel wheel), and lubrication-free design to reduce the frequency of manual intervention, maintenance man-hours down 76%.
Q3: What signals indicate that a production line needs to be upgraded to a 1.6x chain?
→ When there isWorkpiece plate load 50 times/hourThe mechanical reliability of the 1.6x chain will produce a maximised marginal gain at time.
