Conversations on the role Physical AI will play on shop floors across manufacturing took place at every stop I made during the Automate Show in Chicago. Robots—in addition to literally doing the heavy lifting—are now being asked to independently learn from experiences and discover solutions without the assistance of human programmers. At the Universal Robots (Teradyne Robotics) booth, I was treated to some amazing force sensing applications that led to a discussion on a recent gearbox assembly use case between AICA (a partner of UR) and Schaeffler that tapped robots to assemble gearboxes.
Through loaded tooth contact analysis of two applications, this paper demonstrates that crown gears can match bevel gear load capacity while offering meaningful advantages in weight reduction, axial-force-free pinion mounting, and assembly simplicity.
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Water spray quenching achieves heat transfer coefficients up to 4,000 W/(m²K)—nearly double conventional oil quenching rates—enabling potential material substitution and tailored quench intensity for complex gear components.
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20NiMo9-7 alloy achieves up to 48 percent higher fatigue strength than conventional carburizing steels in the as-carburized condition, eliminating the need for shot peening and grinding in automotive gear applications.
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An excerpt from Gear Technology Solutions by Dr. Hermann J. Stadtfeld exploring the mathematics behind conjugate bevel and hypoid gears—from the fundamental laws of gearing and the conditions for perfect conjugacy to why real-world power transmissions require deliberate crowning rather than theoretically exact conjugate designs.
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The main objective of this study is to perform an experimental evaluation of the structural model of a five-planet first planetary stage from a modern 6MW wind turbine gearbox.
The world of bevel gear grinding is a complex topic. How do you determine which grinding and dressing parameters to select for a desired surface finish? What type of grinding wheel should be used? What type of dresser should be used? How do all these factors affect the gear noise and quality levels? These are some questions that will be addressed in this article.
Different component characteristics in electric vehicles lead to higher noise and load requirements in the automotive industry. E-mobility—to a certain degree—is changing how gear analysis and inspection is carried out. Dissecting noise issues in gears and gearboxes requires an analytical approach like a detective. The problem could stem from the design itself, tolerancing or tip/root relief issues, tooth flank form deviations like waviness or perhaps crowning issues that directly impact noise. Every aspect of gear production needs to be examined to provide the most accurate results.
Since I have had the privilege of visiting numerous gear plants and research centers in the U.S., as well as 170 in 33 countries, and I closely watch the progression of technology, I wanted to share my observations about some technological advancements. For the purpose of this article, I will focus on three key areas: Robotics, Machine Tools, and Heat Treating.
The demand for double helical gears in planetary gear systems for engines in the civil aerospace industry is increasing. Innovative grinding processes and state-of-the-art technologies ensure precision, reduced weight, and improved cost efficiency. Learn how KAPP NILES reduced the gap width from 30 mm to 15 mm.
Discover four diagnostic enhancement tools that move RX® endothermic gas atmosphere generator operations from preventative to predictive maintenance. Learn how monitoring dew point by retort, comparing equal flow, tracking tube performance, and measuring outlet temperatures prevent costly failures while ensuring consistent, high-quality carrier gas production.
The right hob can make a measurable difference in gear production. Watch the video to see how Star SU combines advanced hob technology with application expertise to help manufacturers get more from every gear cutting operation.
The Intra SFTX twin-spindle single-flank testing system is engineered for advanced gear quality testing and NVH analysis of demanding e-drive gear applications. Combining Transmission Error (TE) and Torsional Acceleration (TA) measurements, it delivers fast, precise diagnostics and detailed order analysis, quickly identifies critical gear issues, enhances traceability, and helps prevent costly defects from reaching end-of-line (EOL) testing.
The 80PS Power Skiving and Hobbing Machine is specifically engineered for power skiving, hobbing, and profile milling of small internal and external gears. Configured specifically for the demands of humanoid robotic gear production, it delivers outstanding performance and process stability for gears used in strain wave, planetary, and cycloidal gearboxes, as well as other high-precision applications of comparable size — even when machining fine-pitch gears and thin-walled components.
Productive Robotics sets the new standard for simplifying robotic automation. OB7 ensures simplicity in use and versatility, easy automation of existing production and new set-ups, increased output, consistency, and quality. It emphasizes teaching the robot rather than programming. Productive Robotics' OB7 collaborative robots are currently used in many diverse applications due to their simplicity, capability, and affordability.
Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Mazak have partnered for the development of a convergent metal additive manufacturing platform that unifies metal additive manufacturing and high-precision machining within production-relevant workflows.
In most precision shops, the print is clipped to the bench, the setup sheet is in someone’s email, and the operator walks back to the office to confirm they’re on the right rev. That’s one of the problems Datanomix is solving at IMTS 2026. Datanomix will showcase Digital Production Bundles at IMTS 2026, Booth #135521, and prove what happens when the shop floor goes paperless.
Jan 6, 2027 - Jan 9, 2027
Attracting a diverse range of professionals, including executives, engineers, designers, and entrepreneurs, CES (Las Vegas) is an excellent opportunity to connect, collaborate, and grow your professional network. The broad range of exhibits and industries represented at the show can inspire innovative solutions. Industries include 3D printing, AR/VR/XR, AI, cloud computing/data, construction tech, cybersecurity, robotics, e-Mobility, AI, vehicle tech and more.
Jan 18, 2027 - Jan 21, 2027
Nov 24, 2026 - Nov 26, 2026
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