Duplex sprocket/gear construction and method of making same

A method of making a powder metal toothed wheel of unitary construction having engagement teeth in a teeth region around the periphery of a body region, said teeth and body regions being integral with one another, comprising the steps of:

• charging a teeth region chamber of a two chamber compaction die with a powder metal material of said teeth region of said toothed wheel;
• charging a body region chamber of said compaction die with a powder metal material of said body region of said toothed wheel, said powder metal material of said teeth region being of a composition which is different from the composition of the powder metal material of said body region;
• simultaneously pressing said powder metal materials in both of said chambers of said compaction die with a higher pressure in said teeth region chamber than in said body region chamber;
• ejecting said toothed wheel from said compaction die;
• and
• sintering said toothed wheel.

A method of making a powder metal toothed wheel of unitary construction having engagement teeth in a teeth region around the periphery of a body region, said teeth and body regions being integral with one another, comprising the steps of:

• charging a compaction die with at least two powder metal materials of said toothed wheel, said materials being of different composition and at least one of said materials being for said teeth region and at least one other of said materials being for said body region;
• compacting, in said compaction die, said at least one powder metal material of said teeth region to a higher density than said at least one powder metal material of said body region;
• and
• after said compacting step, sintering said toothed wheel.