#80 Stainless Steel Sprocket | ANSI 80 Precision Large-Pitch SS Drive

Why Precision Matters More — Not Less — at Large Pitch

A common misconception is that large-pitch sprockets are easier to machine than small-pitch ones. The geometry is coarser, the tooth profile tolerances seem more forgiving, and the parts are physically easier to handle. In practice, however, the mechanical consequences of pitch errors scale with tooth count. A 0.05 mm angular error at one tooth translates into a pitch accumulation error across the full circumference that is proportional to the number of teeth — on a 48-tooth #80 sprocket, that same angular error at every tooth produces an uneven chain engagement pattern detectable as vibration and noise, and accelerating wear on the chain links that seat on out-of-position tooth flanks. This is why our Ever-Power #80 Stainless Steel Sprocket production uses laser ball-bar calibrated hobbing machines with quarterly verification, dedicated cutters per pitch (not shared across pitches where tool wear degrades profiles), and 100% pitch-diameter checks on CMM before any sprocket leaves the inspection station.

Rotational Inertia and Weight Reduction on Large SS Sprockets

Stainless steel is approximately 5% denser than carbon steel, and at the 1-inch pitch scale, sprockets are substantial pieces of material. A 48-tooth #80 SS sprocket disc can weigh 12–18 kg depending on hub length — which represents meaningful rotating inertia on start-stop drives, and a real handling concern during installation. For applications where mass is a significant factor, we offer machined lightening pockets in the disc face: circular or kidney-shaped recesses that reduce rotating mass by 15–25% while leaving tooth root and hub cross-sections intact. These are analysed by our engineering team for fatigue life before machining, using your stated torque and speed conditions. The result is a lighter part that handles more easily, draws less motor current on acceleration, and places less dynamic load on the shaft bearings.

Split Sprocket Option for Retrofit Without Shaft Disassembly

For large #80 sprockets installed mid-shaft — where removing the shaft end would require dismantling adjacent gearboxes or bearings — two-piece split sprockets offer installation without shaft disassembly. The sprocket is machined as a one-piece unit and then precision-cut through the disc; the two halves bolt together over the shaft and the joint is machined flush. Pitch-circle concentricity is maintained to within 0.05 mm TIR on our best split designs. This option is available on request for 20T and larger #80 SS sprockets.

Technical Specifications

Application Sectors for #80 Stainless Sprockets

The 1-inch pitch carries multi-kilowatt loads that smaller pitches cannot handle in a single strand. Stainless is specified when the operating environment is simultaneously aggressive and hygiene- or quality-sensitive. Typical installations for our large stainless sprockets include:

• Paper & Pulp Mills — bleach plant and peroxide-wash zone conveyors
• Petrochemical Plants — catalyst loading and transfer conveyors in acid mist
• Large-Scale Food Processing — overhead slaughterhouse conveyor rails
• Steel Pickling Lines — HCl acid mist environment conveyor drives
• Aquaculture / Fish Farm Equipment — feed conveyor drives on saltwater pontoons
• Water Treatment — clarifier drive chains in chemical dosing areas

Drive System Components We Supply

• ANSI 80 SS Roller Chain — 304 and 316 grades, single and duplex strand
• 80H Heavy Series SS Chain — for drives operating near peak single-strand capacity
• QD and SDS Taper Bush Sets — SDS 4040 through 5050, SS versions available
• Custom SS Drive Shafts — turned 316 SS shafts with keyways and collars
• Alignment Tools — laser sprocket-alignment kits for precise chain-line setup

Customer Testimonials

See the full range of large-pitch stainless sprockets or reach us via the contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions