Engineering Support and Testing
At Allied-Locke Industries, we consolidate engineering, reverse engineering, and lab testing under one roof to support OEMs and service providers. Our in-house capabilities streamline product development, from design modeling to real-world performance assessments, ensuring shorter lead times and reliable quality across chain and sprocket programs.
By centralizing processes, we can confirm that each design performs as intended under actual operating conditions. Our testing verifies fatigue resistance, tensile limits, wear performance, and dimensional accuracy through calibrated methods that align with industry standards and chain drive requirements. These measures ensure that every chain and sprocket meets the high-duty demands of agricultural, industrial, and municipal applications.
Custom Chain and Sprocket Design
Our in-house design team specializes in custom chain and sprocket solutions tailored to diverse applications. Using CAD modeling and engineering data, we create configurations that optimize drive performance and wear life for both new and existing systems.
Design factors we account for include:
- Bore type
- Tooth count and strand quantity
- Torque, pitch, and material compatibility
- Hub options such as tapered or locking designs
- Finishes and features like plated coatings or hardened teeth
- Material selection, including carbon steel, stainless steel, or alloys
By considering these factors, we ensure that each sprocket performs consistently under varied load, speed, and environmental conditions.
Fatigue Testing
Durability under repeated stress is critical to reliable chain performance. Allied-Locke conducts axial force fatigue testing in accordance with ISO 15654 and ASME B29.26 standards to measure endurance life under cyclic loading. This process simulates real-world stresses and validates a chain’s fatigue limit across millions of cycles.
Results from chain testing guide refinements in material selection, pin staking quality, and press-fit ratios. By incorporating this data early in design, we help customers achieve longer service life and safer operation in heavy-duty, high-cycle environments.
3D Scanning for Reverse Engineering
Our reverse engineering services leverage non-contact 3D scanning to capture precise geometries of worn or legacy sprockets and chain components. Scanned data is converted into accurate CAD models, enabling exact replication or design updates even when original drawings are unavailable.
This process supports:
- Tolerance validation
- Integration with fatigue and tensile testing data
- Material and performance assessments
With these insights, customers can replicate discontinued parts or improve upon existing designs, reducing development time for replacement or upgraded components.
Ultimate Tensile Strength Testing
To verify maximum load capacity, Allied-Locke performs ultimate tensile strength testing on chain and sprocket assemblies. Following ISO 606, ASME B29.1, and ASTM E8 standards, our controlled tests measure breaking strength and material elongation under tension.
We use precision tensile machines to generate stress-strain curves that capture yield points, maximum stress levels, and fracture details, allowing engineers to identify heat treatment issues, verify assembly integrity, and validate material performance before moving to production.
In-House Lab and Material Testing
Allied-Locke operates an in-house testing lab to evaluate durability and material performance. Our capabilities include:
- Tribometer wear analysis
- Metallurgical hardness testing
- Surface abrasion testing
- Microstructure examination
- Chemical composition analysis
These tests ensure heat-treated components meet specifications for tensile and fatigue strength before assembly. By validating material properties upfront, we help prevent premature wear and support dependable, high-cycle operation in demanding environments.
Precision You Can Measure With Allied-Locke Industries
Allied-Locke provides complete engineering and sprocket design services, supported by in-house chain testing, tensile and fatigue validation, and advanced reverse engineering. From our U.S. manufacturing facilities in Illinois and Mississippi, we produce precision roller chains and sprockets built to carry heavy loads and meet rigorous standards.
Contact our team today to begin your next design or validation project.