What Precisely is My Gear Made Of?

The building blocks for all materials are microstructures known as atoms. Whether the material in question is a plastic, a metal, or even your skin, they each consists of atoms co-existing in a peaceful dance known as bonding. Each atom consists of electrons, protons, and a nucleus. When a group of identical atoms are grouped together, they form an element. Since the late 1600s when the concept of atomic structure was first discussed, a total of 118 unique elements have been identified. It is from these elements that we can manufacture gears.