Sprockets are chain driven, usually in English units. There are single line, double line and multi line. Suitable for low speed, heavy load, high temperature and other working conditions. Compared with gears, it can be used for double shaft centers.

Gears are driven by meshing with each other. Most units are metric units, expressed in modules. The transmission has a wide range of power and speed. Compact structure, large transmission ratio, high efficiency and long service life.

The main differences between gears and sprockets are:

1. The gear is of involute profile, and the sprocket is of "three arcs and one straight line" profile.

2. The gear can realize the transmission between parallel shafts and any staggered shafts, while the sprocket can only realize the transmission between parallel shafts.

3. The gear transmission structure is compact, and the sprocket can realize long-distance transmission.

4. The gear is driven by the engagement of two teeth, and the two sprockets must be driven by the chain.

5. The gear has more torque than the sprocket.

6. The machining accuracy and installation cost of the gear are higher than those of the sprocket.

7. The sprocket drive is suitable for the drive with large center distance, and has the characteristics of light weight and low cost.

8. Machining accuracy and precision of middle chain wheel and chain wheel. The chain drive is smaller than the gear drive. It is easy to change the parameters of the existing chain drive (transmission ratio, center distance, etc.).

9. Under normal circumstances, the chain wheel drive has a high chain wheel gear that meshes with the chain at the same time. The sprocket tooth groove arc is large, and the gear stress concentration is small. Therefore, the chain wheel drive has a large bearing capacity, and the tooth surface wear is light;

10. Because the sprocket has good elasticity and lubricating oil is stored at each hinge of the sprocket, it has better buffer capacity and vibration absorption capacity than the teeth in rigid contact.

11. When the transmission capacity is limited by space, the center distance is very small, the instantaneous transmission ratio is constant, or the transmission ratio is too high, the speed is very high, and the noise requirements are very small. The performance of sprocket transmission is not as good as that of gear transmission.