The Phoenix 280C Bevel Gear Cutting Machine from Gleason reduces cycle times by up to 35 percent for bevel gears and pinions up to 280 mm in diameter.

A high-speed automatic loader minimizes workpiece changeover to five seconds for gears and seven seconds for pinions. The machine is appropriate for automotive manufacturers looking to cut workpiece costs on the highest volumes and for job shops that need more flexibility to change parts quickly.

An on-machine inspection device reduces non-productive cycle times. The time needed to remove and inspect parts in a quality lab following a cutter change or when preparing a new part or family of parts is taken out of the equation.

Chamfer/deburr time has also been reduced with an auxiliary chamfering spindle that deburrs a gear in parallel to the one being cut, as opposed to the operation being performed in sequence after cutting.

The 280C operates more reliably in production environments where dry machining is performed. The machine's column is cast from an advanced polymer composite material that provides high thermal stability and damping, which is appropriate for high volume, dry cutting conditions. Hot, dry chips are contained away from the cutting zone.

With guarding that improves access to service areas and new features such as a servo door system with robust rails, the 280C is more reliable in comparison to machines with pneumatic door systems. Other new features include a tool-less hydraulic cutter spindle clamping design to do away with the time and effort needed to change the cutter system. Arbor changeover is faster with quick-change workholding that is removed from the front of the machine instead of from the back without special tools or fasteners.

Software for the 280C is new. Used with either Fanuc 30i or Siemens 840D CNC, the software system provides less experienced operators with the know-how to optimize setup, programming and machine operation. Diagnostics screens help debug problems, and the 280C is network-ready, so Gleason can help with problem-solving in remote diagnostics for installations worldwide.