Now roll testing and single flank testing of bevel, angular bevel and parallel-axis gears with diameters up to 2,500 mm can be completed much faster with the introduction of the Gleason 1000T, 1600T, 2000T and 2500T Universal Gear Testers. The new series of Gleason 6-axis fully CNC Universal Gear Testers can perform the full range of pattern checking and single flank (SFT) motion transmission error testing on any bevel gear set with the widest possible range of angles. Unlike competitive products, the Gleason Universal Testers are equipped with a CNC-controlled pivoting gearhead that can swing from 0 to 180 degrees, thus enabling it to precisely mesh pinion and ring gears of varying angles and types, and even cylindrical gears - both parallel axis and off-angle.

In addition, the new design also makes day-to-day operations such as setup, manual or full automatic operation and 'jogging' much simpler and more intuitive-despite the added complexity of testing an angular gear set. The Gleason Testers enable the operator to relate to the machine through virtual gear set axes that are easier to understand and work with, rather than typical machine axes that can be difficult to translate into angular motions. Siemens 840D or Fanuc 31i CNC controller and intuitive Windows-based Gleason inspection software not only support this unique virtual capability, but also make more routine functions like manual roll checks, cycle setup and V & H testing that much easier for the operator.

The Gleason Universal Testers also are designed and built for rugged, dependable operation and the day-to-day rigors of the production floor. They feature, for example, a particularly rigid and thermally stable granite machine base frame, and an advanced light curtain to protect the integrity of the work zone. They also combine an extremely compact size with a particularly large and accessible test area.   Load/unload is manual, so the open test area and long axes travels make it easier for the operator to quickly load and unload gears of any size and geometry.

First of the new series, a 1000T, is already in production at Sauter Bachman, a Netstal, Switzerland based leader in the production of high quality gears and gearboxes for aircraft, automotive, railway and textile industry applications. The 1000T, 1600T, 2000T and 2500T (for workpiece diameters ranging from 1000 mm, 1600 mm, 2000 mm and 2,500 mm respectively) help complete the Gleason family of highly popular testers that also includes the 360T, a similar universal tester for gears up to 420 mm in diameter, and the 600HTT Turbo Tester, for bevel gears up to 600 mm in diameter.