Electric vehicles are changing the gear industry. If your business is at all attached to the manufacture of automobiles, construction equipment, motorcycles, aircraft, I hope you’re paying attention. The gears you used to make are going to be changing if they haven’t already. E-mobility isn’t going away anytime soon.

This article describes a cloud-based process and machine component monitoring system called ARGUS. The term “swarm” is used for a large population of gear-grinding machines of individual and independent customers connected to the ARGUS system and the ARGUS cloud. These “swarm” machines permanently feed their anonymized process data into a common cloud database. Reishauer uses this database for big data analytics to discover patterns that indicate successful process and machine component behavior patterns worth integrating into the ARGUS algorithms and propagate them across the complete ARGUS customer base.

2023 is shaping up to be our planet’s hottest year on record, and the wind energy industry is feeling the heat. The GWEC (Global Wind Energy Council) says that the rate of wind turbine installations will need to quadruple globally by the end of the decade if we’re to achieve the IRENA’s (International Renewable Energy Agency) goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050—and keep the average annual temperature worldwide from increasing more than the predicted 1.5° C. Fortunately, “net zero” commitments are gathering global momentum. Before year’s end, total global windpower is expected to reach a historic milestone of 1 TW of installed capacity, eliminating 1.2 billion tons of CO2 annually, roughly the equivalent of all the carbon emissions of South America.

The Motion + Power Technology Expo is a three-day show that’s designed for the gear and power transmission industry, representing the entire community of professionals involved in the life of a gear, gearbox or other power transmission device—from design to manufacturing, testing, heat treating and more. You can find the suppliers of the equipment to make gears as well as gear and gear drive manufacturers themselves, along with related suppliers of things like software, tooling, lubrication, bearings and more.

Heat Treat 2023 is the Heat Treating Society’s 32nd conference and expo for heat treating professionals featuring three days of face-to-face networking opportunities with approximately 200 heat treat exhibitors/companies. All the top heat-treating companies will offer the latest research and industry insights during more than 100 technical programs. This year’s show includes a VIP-guided industry tour, as well as student/emerging professionals initiatives, including free college student registration, Fluxtrol Student Research Competition, and the ASM Heat Treating Society Strong Bar Student Competition. Heat Treat 2023 is colocated with Motion + Power Technology Expo 2023 with access to additional exhibitors. The event takes place October 17–19, 2023 at Huntington Place in Detroit.

The manufacturing version of Indiana Jones is much more interested in lithium, cobalt, and nickel than arks, grails or “Dials of Destiny.” So much so that the current administration is doing its part to keep up with China in the dramatic supply chain cold war taking place across the globe. We’ve all read and reread the headlines, electrification is imminent for our carbon-neutral future—the path toward electrification, however, is quite complicated.

A range of gear manufacturing applications such as planetary carriers and gear wheels with strict tolerances demand comprehensive, reliable clamping solutions. Whether the objective is to reduce vibrations or ensure concentricity of only a few microns, the clamping must meet challenging requirements.

This report discusses grain size and its influence on metallurgical properties including its effect on yield strength, ultimate strength, fatigue strength, and fracture toughness. Also discussed are manufacturing issues such as heat treatment, hardenability, and machinability. 

This paper deals with the residual stress depth profiles in case-carburized gears, their effects on the fatigue behavior as well as the enhancement of ISO/TS 6336-4 to include the consideration of tensile residual stresses in the tooth core area. For this purpose, an equation is also presented with which these tensile residual stresses can be estimated so that they can be used in the enhanced evaluation of TFF risk.

We came across an interesting statistic recently in our normal product coverage for Gear Technology magazine. United Grinding had more than 2,500 remote deployments during the pandemic. Digital assistance systems—big and small—helped machine operators navigate production output in real time during this chaotic work period.

From amusement park rollercoasters to cranes, mining equipment, conveyors, automotive assembly lines, and many other applications, SEW-Eurodrive manufactures the gearmotors, electronics, and software that keep things moving. Based in Bruchsal, Germany, the company maintains a network of 16 production plants and 79 Drive Technology Centers in 50 countries around the world. The plant in Lyman, South Carolina, one of the four facilities in the U.S., is staffed by the 300 employees and incorporates more than 100 robots in its automated production processes. 

CNC grinding technology pioneer ANCA will showcase their latest products and industry-specific grinding and automation solutions at EMO at Booth F52, Hall 6 in Hanover, Germany in September. The eagerly awaited winner of the renowned Tool of the Year competition will be announced live Wednesday, September 20^th at 4.30 pm (GMT)—and all are welcome to join the celebrations and witness for themselves the ultimate range of cutting tools.

United Grinding Group offers digital assistance systems that make work easier for users of all kinds in areas like remote service, service monitoring, production monitoring, and digital solution technologies. Remote Service offers simple and fast assistance. For example, in the event of machine downtime, United Grinding North America customers can request service with the press of a button. This service request can be submitted by the customer via a smartphone and the corresponding Digital Solutions app, or via the Customer Cockpit.

ECM USA has partnered with the prominent global manufacturer, SEW-EURODRIVE, to commission a modular NANO vacuum furnace system completely integrated with advanced automation for their Lyman, South Carolina facility.

Dillon self-centering Jaw Forming Rings, or Jaw Boring Rings, attach to the front of jaws without tools so installation is fast and simple, and set-up times are slashed.  Use of this device will provide a jaw surface true to the machine centerline, reduce set-up times, and increase up-times for running machined parts.

Verisurf Software, Inc. announces its 2024 software release providing new productivity workflows, powerful tools, enhanced functions, and expanded sensor and device compatibility, all designed to better connect metrology and manufacturing for global success. 

Liebherr offered visitors the opportunity to experience a wide range of innovative products during Automatica 2023 in Munich. One of the main attractions was the Cobot Cell, a functional and reliable application that enables customers to realize bin picking.

It is with great sadness that Forest City Gear announces the death of Fred Young, former president and CEO. Fred took over the family business, Forest City Gear, in 1967. Founded by his parents in 1955, Fred took the small mom-and-pop shop to a global level, leading the company to manufacture some of the world's most difficult gearing for amazing end uses from NASA's Martian rovers and space station to robotic arms and racing yachts.

ANCA, a leading global manufacturer of CNC grinding machines, proudly announces the launch of its first Female Machinist Award. This prestigious accolade aims to recognize and honor the outstanding achievements of female machinists in the tool and cutter grinding industry. By promoting gender diversity and equality, ANCA is dedicated to fostering an industry that excels in every aspect. 

Recently, Solar Atmospheres commissioned a new 25,000 square foot brazing facility aimed at high-volume, high-quality braze production. The facility boasts six vacuum furnaces dedicated to brazing, including a unique all-metal hot-zone furnace designed for brazing stainless steel to copper with silver and gold-based braze filler metal (BFM).

It’s rare to find employees who work 25 years at the same company, especially in the volatile software industry. That’s why Global Shop Solutions, a leading provider of ERP software for manufacturers, is proud to announce the 25th anniversary of Mike Melzer, Vice President of Operations & Service.

Star SU, the marketing, sales, and service affiliate of Star Cutter Company, has announced the hiring of three new area sales managers (ASMs). Each ASM will be responsible for growing sales in his territory across multiple product lines, illustrating the company’s ability to better serve customers through its vertically-integrated structure.

Bourn & Koch, a leading provider of American-made machine tools, proudly announces the promotion of Anthony Riportella to the position of Inside Sales Manager. In his new role, Riportella will oversee the inside sales team and support the company's numerous American-made machine tool brands, including Bullard, Blanchard, DeVlieg, and Fellows machine tools.

Nidec Machine Tool Corporation (“Nidec Machine Tool” or the “Company”), a group company of Nidec Corporation, today announced that it will construct a new factory for Nidec India Precision Tools Ltd. (“NMTI”), the Company’s cutting tool manufacturer and seller in Ranipet of India’s Tamil Nadu State, to start production on Saturday, July 1. With its production capacity 1.5 times the Company’s current manufacturing capability, the new factory will produce hob, pinion, and other cutting tools. After its launch, the factory will be able to quickly supply the Company’s customers in India with its products and meet their needs in response to the growing demand for autos, construction, and farming machinery.

As of 1 July 2023, Dr. Markus Nolte began as CEO at EMCO GmbH. A total of 800 employees, 5 production sites and a global sales and services network stand for high-quality machine tools “Made in the Heart of Europe”, for innovations and for customer proximity.

For 107 years, AGMA has been the go-to place for gear standards. We have been bringing together engineers and leaders from across our industry to keep our standards updated and in line with new technologies. We started with noise issues on electric street cars in the early 1900s, and today we lead the global ISO TC 60 committee on standards including wind-turbine gear-box development. As new technologies and gear applications emerged, AGMA has gathered experts to discuss, brainstorm, share, and collaborate on the topics of the day such as plastic gears, epicyclic gears, marine gears, wind turbine gearboxes, and, of course, gear sets for internal combustion vehicles. We have also kept updated standards on gear accuracy, materials, and lubrication. This work has led to standards that reduce costs, improve quality, and make safer products for manufacturers and consumers worldwide.