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Hobbing

TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2025-02-27

Cutting Tool Selection Criteria for Cylindrical Gear Manufacturing

This paper is divided into two parts. The first part is a general digression on the pressure angle on cylindrical gears. The pressure angle is a variable that plays an important role in defining the geometry of gears and hobs, yet it is not widely discussed. This introduction serves as a prerequisite for the second part of the paper. The second part will show an application case of  hoosing
the most suitable hob to cut a given gear. In this selection process, particular attention will be paid to the pressure angle of the hob for cutting with modified rolling, i.e., with a reduced pressure angle compared to that of the gear.

VIDEO | 2024-09-18

Helios Improves Gear Hobbing at Buffalo Gear

The Helios team installed a Hera 350 CNC Gear Hobbing Machine at Buffalo Gear in Buffalo, NY. See how Buffalo Gear's capabilities have expanded with the upgrade.

FEATURE ARTICLES | 2024-08-15

The Importance of Workholding Flexibility

The 67,000 sq. ft. facility occupied by Precision Gears Inc. in Pewaukee, WI, contains a full range of gear manufacturing equipment to meet the varied customer demands of the many industries it serves. Founded in 1919, the company possesses both the technologies and experience to efficiently serve the multiple requirements of manufacturers in fields as varied as agriculture, lawn and garden, foodservice, power transmission construction, pumps, and others.

VIDEO | 2024-05-21

Hera 90 Specification

The Helios Hera 90 CNC gear hobbing machine combines advanced technology, precision components, and economic pricing to enable profitable production of high-quality spur gears, helical gears, straight bevel gears, and other hobbed profiles.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2024-01-26

Doubling Down on Hera Hobbing with Dayton Gear

Dayton Gear partnered with Helios Gear Products to install a new Hera 200 CNC gear hobber, followed shortly after by a Hera 500 CNC gear hobber. Helios had a chance to check in with Adam Baird and Brian Baird, 3rd generation at Dayton Gear, to see how their production has changed since the installation, and how they're planning and looking forward to the future.

VIDEO | 2024-01-23

Doubling Down on Hera Hobbing

The Helios team recently installed a Hera 200 and Hera 500 at Dayton Gear in Dayton, OH.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2023-12-07

Gear Hobbing Machine HLC 150 H from EMAG Koepfer

Machining the teeth of a rotor shaft for electric cars has demanding machining requirements. Very few other applications place such high demands as transmission components. The very quiet motor requires the highest surface finishes so that disturbing running noises do not occur. In addition, the number of units in e-mobility is greatly increasing, which is an additional challenge for the mechanical engineering involved. What is needed, therefore, are process-reliable solutions for cost-effective rotor shaft production. EMAG Koepfer HLC 150 H gear hobbing machine demonstrates how this can work, ensuring new productivity in this gear sector.

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PRODUCT NEWS | 2023-09-15

GMTA Offers Profilator 300-V with Linear Drives to North American Market

German Machine Tools of America (GMTA) is now selling Profilator 300-V with linear drives in the North American market.
This modular machine platform used to cut gears, is equipped with one or two workpiece spindles in a compact design. It offers maximum flexibility due to modular design and is individually configurable for various machining processes (i.e. Scudding, hobbing, cycloidal milling, pointing, chamfering and deburring). State-of-the-art linear drives in the x and y axis, as well as a torque drive in the a axis offers high machine dynamics for short cycle times and maximum accuracy/low costs. High machine rigidity is available for Hard Scudding of inner and outer diameters. 

FEATURE ARTICLES | 2023-07-27

Efficient Turnkey Machining of Complex E-drive Components

For the transmissions of electric vehicles to develop the desired high torque under all driving conditions, a very large gear ratio is needed, which requires high speeds. And to ensure sufficient momentum at all speeds and enable the driver to accelerate without shifting gears, the electric drive must achieve up to 15,000 rpm, which is about three times that of a typical combustion engine. This puts a lot of strain on the rotor shaft. The manufacturers of rotor shafts are thus facing new challenges, such as the significantly lower shape and position tolerances and the need for greater machining precision.
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2023-06-20

Corrected Lead Hobs

During our interactions with customers, we find the common challenge faced by customers about getting incorrect component parameters using corrected lead hobs. To address the challenge, we will talk about what corrected lead hobs are, why it is necessary to design such hobs, and how to set up the hob on the machine depending upon the type of hobbing machine (manual, semiautomatic CNC, or CNC).
 

PRODUCT NEWS | 2023-05-10

Three Configurations: Affolter Gear Hobbing Machine AF160 Offers Versatility

When developing the AF160, maximum versatility was the key goal of the Engineering Department of the Swiss family enterprise Affolter Group, a world technology leader in high-precision gear hobbing solutions. Vincent Affolter, Managing Director of the Affolter Group, explains: “The AF160 is designed for high precision manufacturers that need flexibility and efficiency. With its eight axes, sophisticated automation solutions, and an innovative quick-change system, the machine provides exactly that.”

EVENT | 2023-02-07

Gear Up for Precision

Gear Up for Precision will take place April 12-13, 2023. Both Wenzel and Nidec Machine Tool America, located across from each other in Wixom, Mich., will be open to visitors with displays, technical discussions, presentations, and demonstrations.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2023-02-06

State of the Gear Industry Perspectives: Helios Gear Products

State of the Gear Industry Perspectives takes an in-depth look at the challenges and opportunities in gear manufacturing today and in the future. Our fifth installment online is an interview with Adam Gimpert, president, Helios Gear Products.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2023-01-30

State of the Gear Industry Perspectives: Klingelnberg

State of the Gear Industry Perspectives takes an in-depth look at the challenges and opportunities in gear manufacturing today and in the future. Our second installment online is an interview with Christof Gorgels, vice president, innovation and technology at Klingelnberg. 

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INDUSTRY NEWS | 2023-01-27

State of the Gear Industry Perspectives: Gleason Corporation

State of the Gear Industry Perspectives takes an in-depth look at the challenges and opportunities in gear manufacturing today and in the future. Our first installment online is an interview with Udo Stolz, vice president of sales and marketing at Gleason Corporation.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2022-12-22

Nidec Machine Tool Launches Robot Cameras for Hobbing and Broaching Machines to Help Automate Visual Inspections of Cutting Tools

Nidec Machine Tool Corporation announced today that it has launched Robot Camera SPEED, visual inspection equipment for cutting tools (hobbing machines) to process gears and other components, and Robot Camera MAX, visual inspection equipment for broaching machines. 

VIDEO | 2022-11-16

Helios Solves Gear Cutting Tool Challenges with Delta Gear

The Helios team recently delivered custom gear cutting tools to Delta Research in Livonia, MI. This video examines what Delta Research had to say about the process.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2022-09-19

Forest City Gear Promotes Kent Blatchford to Gear Hobbing Specialist

Forest City Gear, an industry-leading manufacturer of fine and medium pitch custom gears, is proud to announce the promotion of Kent Blatchford to Gear Hobbing Supervisor. 

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2022-08-25

Euro-Tech Meets EV Clamping Needs

Electric vehicles or EVs are increasingly popular options for people who want to save money on gas and decrease their reliance on fossil fuels.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2022-08-16

WFL Offers Latest Multifunctional Machine Technology at IMTS 2022

IMTS visitors can experience live machining with the WFL M50 MILLTURN/3000 mm. The multifunctional turning-boring-milling center is designed for complete machining of complex chuck and shaft parts up to 670 mm swing over bed. Turning, milling, drilling, hobbing, shaping, gun drilling as well as ID machining can be performed under any angle of the tool. 

PRODUCT NEWS | 2022-08-09

EMAG Presents E-Mobility and Digital Solutions at IMTS 2022

EMAG will highlight productive, and at the same time, flexible manufacturing solutions for electromobility at IMTS. Among other things, the focus is on the vertical pick-up lathes of the VL series, which EMAG now delivers IoT-Ready.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2022-07-21

Helios Gear Products Debuts Gear Hobbing Technology at IMTS 2022

Helios Gear Products will debut two state-of-the-art gear manufacturing solutions at the International Manufacturing Technology Show in Chicago, September 12–17, 2022.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2022-06-24

Nidec to Exhibit Gearmaking Machines at IMTS 2022

Nidec Machine Tool (Wixom, Mich.), responding to the needs of the industry, is debuting the new GE15HS gear hobbing machine at IMTS 2022 in Booth #237036. Emphasizing high speed, precision and efficiency, the new machine produces gears for electric and hybrid cars, as well as for robotic and automation applications.

EVENT | 2022-06-01

AGMA Operator Hobbing & Shaper Cutting

Learn and understand fundamentals of gear manufacturing. Acquire knowledge and understanding of gear nomenclature, hobbing and shaping of spur and helical gears, and splines. Learn and understand hobber and shaper machine set-up, as well as gear tooth element inspection. 

FEATURE ARTICLES | 2022-05-19

The Numbers Game

Tool-X is a nanofluid that changes the characteristics of existing metalworking fluids by ‘manipulating’ speeds, feeds and metal removal rates using nanotechnology. The science behind Tool-X can potentially change metal cutting dynamics, improve surface finishes and extend tool life. The backstory of this technology is just as fascinating as its production results.

PRODUCT NEWS | 2022-05-18

Hobbing and Chamfer Cutting

It wasn’t long ago that cylindrical gear chamfering and deburring was almost an afterthought. Now the process ranks as high in importance as hobbing, shaping and grinding. Seemingly every gear manufacturer, particularly those developing transmission gears for e-drive applications, recognizes that anything less than a flawless tooth flank can result in premature transmission failure, less-than-optimal efficiency, and unacceptable noise. Thus, generating a chamfer to precise customer specifications is critical to minimize the potential for sharp, brittle edges after heat treat; avoid edge load situations in the gearbox; and eliminate excessive stock and hardened burrs in the tooth flank prior to the hard finishing operations (conditions which can greatly diminish tool life).

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2022-03-22

Versatile Hobbing Solutions from Affolter, Helios and Nidec

Production demands continue to rise with the burgeoning electrification movement. The desire for high-precision gears and low-cost manufacturing requires versatile and affordable high-efficiency processing to serve the needs of a variety of industries. Gathered here are a few recent hobbing solutions from Affolter Group, Helios Gear Products, and Nidec Machine Tool Corporation.

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2021-12-14

Modified Crowning with Klingelnberg

Klingelnberg examines how engine management in electrically driven cars requires a very different specification of the driveline and the gearbox.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2021-09-01

Characteristic Value-Based Process Design of Gear Hobbing Processes with Radial Infeed

This report focuses on the combined consideration of the infeed and the subsequent axial machining with additional variation of the workpiece width in order to evaluate the influence of the infeed with increasing or decreasing full cut area.
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2021-06-16

MHI Launches Two New Hobbing Machines

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Machine Tool Co., Ltd., a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group, announces the June 2021 launch of ...
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2021-05-14

Advantages of Chamfering

State-of-the-Art Chamfer Cutting Technologies for Cylindrical Gears
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2021-04-26

ANCA Provides Complete Skiving Cutter Solution for EV Transmissions

ANCA's TX and MX machines offer skiving cutter sharpening

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2021-04-12

Affolter Group Introduces Latest Gear Hobbing Machine

Affolter Group has introduced the AF160 is the most versatile Affolter gear hobbing machine to date. “The AF160 is designed for hig...
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2021-03-22

Helios Offers Hobbing Solutions for Plastic Gears

External plastic gears, like their metal counterparts, use the hobbing process for productive manufacturing. However, the difference in m...
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2021-02-22

Fatigue Strength and Service Calculation of Gears

Bevel gear design is well-established. Flank geometry optimization is used worldwide to ensure satisfactory low-noise emis...

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2021-02-12

A Lesson in Workholding Fundamentals

Evolution of a Real-World Workholding Solution

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2020-11-30

Wisconsin Gear Expands Capabilities with Helios Gear Hobbing Machine

“It is the story we love to tell: a traditional job shop takes the leap by investing in new CNC machinery, and they discover easier...
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2020-11-01

HMC and Liebherr Collaborate on Large Scale Gear Production Project

A visit to the HMC Gears plant in Indiana kicked off an extensive project which resulted in the creation of a unique solution for exceptional demands: With the LC 4000, Liebherr forges new paths in large-scale gear cutting production and unites diverse machining methods in one highly efficient machine for the American gear specialist.
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2020-10-28

But What About ...

Some of you are probably calling forth the gear deities to smite me for promoting a “free thinking” approach to helix angles; I understand complete...
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2020-10-26

Machine Tool Builders Offers Three Hamai Hobbing Machine Configurations

Machine Tool Builders has recently introduced the new Hamai machine to the North American market. Hamai offers three different finer pitc...
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2020-10-21

It All Depends ...

Regular followers of this blog know whenever I say “it all depends,” that I am compelled to credit industry legend Ray Drago for stealing his catch...
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2020-10-14

Closing the Gap

We left the gear tribe arguing over how to solve the problems that were cropping up with the new-fangled double helical or herringbone designs. Fas...
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2020-08-21

Helios Introduces Hera 200 CNC Gear Hobbing Machine

Helios Gear Products exclusively offers the Helios Hera 200 CNC gear hobbing machine. This machine, manufactured by YG Tech, provides gea...
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2020-08-01

IMTS Future Tech

The Digital Manufacturing Revolution Evolves in 2020 IMTS will offer two comprehensive digital programs, IMTS Network and IMTS Sp...

ASK THE EXPERT | 2020-08-01

Selecting Correct Size of Hob/Gashing Cutter

How does one select the correct size of hob/gashing cutter like hob OD, length and number of flutes for teeth cutting process based on tip circle diameter and face width of job?
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2020-05-20

Ask the Expert: 5/20/20 Edition

From time to time I’ll be doing some brief Ask the Expert questions and answers. These questions will be on topics that might be very familiar ...
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2020-02-19

Known Unknowns

In my last posting I mentioned the need for humility and skepticism. Before anyone think this is heading off into political commentary, let me expl...
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2019-12-13

EMAG Offers R 300 Hobbing Machine to HKS Dreh-Antriebe

Rotary actuators are jacks-of-all-trades: They are implemented whenever an object must be rotated or swiveled—this is necessary d...
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2019-11-20

Liebherr and Morat Swoboda Collaborate on E-Mobility Solutions

Few topics are currently so intensely discussed as climate and the question of future-viable mobility. Stress caused by car traffic, particularly a...
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2019-10-28

Helios Introduces Hera 150 Gear Hobbing Machine

Helios Gear Products exclusively introduces the Helios Hera 150 gear cutting solution from YG Tech to North American gear manufacturers. ...
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2019-09-12

Where Did All the Dealmakers Go?

An old business associate called the other day with a training request. To the best of my knowledge, he’s among the last “manufacturer’s representa...
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2019-09-01

Design Parameters for Spline Connections

This article provides a guideline for the selection of a suitable standard in connection with the kind of spline to be designed and manufactured. Some basic formulae have been explained, together with a strategy on how to find standard tooling by calculating an appropriate profile shift factor for the spline to be designed.
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2019-08-01

A Tale of Two Gear Companies

Experiencing a Dickensian dilemma in its essence, a Los Angeles based manufacturing company was faced with the good fortune of ever increasing orders for steel gears from a good customer with a new recreational product in very high demand. Confronting the possibility of an untold number of lonely late nights tending to the whims of a 1950s era manual hobber was an unpalatable prospect no one desired.
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2019-07-29

Helios Introduces Hera 30 CNC Gear Hobbing Machines

The Helios Hera 30 offers gear manufacturers a next-generation CNC hobbing solution for fine- and ultra-fine-pitch gears. Exclusively sup...
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2019-07-26

Timely Course Corrections

Mrs. Curtis’ account of their family firm’s transition from general machining to noted gearbox manufacturer is an important reminder that success o...
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2019-06-25

64+ Years of Gears—Geoff Ashcroft

1955. Fresh out of high school, (actually grammar school), 16 years old, unqualified academically and financially to continue full time education. ...
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2019-06-11

Rob Swiss — The Accidental Engineer

Another young man discovers you need not be an expert machinist to succeed as a gear engineer. Spoiler alert: never tangle with a grinding wheel; they are undefeated in all time.
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2019-05-28

Planting Good Seeds

We are enjoying the origin story project very much and ...
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2019-05-03

Star SU Announces Hobbing and Shaping Machine Lines from Samputensili

Star SU LLC is pleased to announce it has expanded its comprehensive gear manufacturing product offering to include a line of horizonta...
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2019-05-01

Generative Gear Milling

This paper outlines the basic principles of involute gear generation by using a milling cutter; the machine and cutting tool requirements; similarities and differences with other gear generative methods; the cutting strategy; and setup adjustments options. It also discusses the applications that would benefit the most: for coarse-pitch gears the generative gear milling technologies offer improved efficiency, expanded machine pitch capacity, decreased cutter cost, and a possibility for reducing the number of machining operations.
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2019-04-24

Yefim Kotlyar — My Story

Yefim Kotlyar is a wonderful example of how gears unite the world. His background is much different than mine, yet we share a deep appreciation...
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2019-03-14

Helios Gear Products Introduces Hera 90 CNC Gear Hobbing Machine

Helios Gear Products (formerly Koepfer America) now exclusively offers the Helios Hera 90 CNC gear hobbing machine from YG Tech for the N...
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2019-02-28

Gone but Not Forgotten

Continuing our discussion of veteran machine tools, it occurs to me that many of our younger readers may not be aware that the United States was on...
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2019-01-30

From Co-op to Vice President: Octave A. LaBath

I was attending the University of Cincinnati in the college of engineering. After my freshman year in 1960, I started my co-op job with the Cincinn...
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2019-01-22

Retail Management Career to Gear Manufacturing: Who Would Have Guessed?

In 2012, Rj Link International hired Matt Rossiter as a gear machinist and entered him into the Rock River Valley Tooling & Machining Associati...
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2019-01-18

Getting into the Gear Trade: Chris Trochelman

Here is the first of our guest blogs on the topic of how you entered the gear trade. Chris Trochelman (pictured above, fa...
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2019-01-10

The Journey Continues

An apprentice ...
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2018-12-18

Why Would I Want to Work for You?

Why are some jobs more attractive than others? Why are some organizations able to succeed with “players” cut from other companies? Why are some pla...
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2018-12-11

Handling Changes

It is the solemn du...
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2018-12-04

Dealing with Obsolescence

Emerging technology gets lots of coverage in all forms of media; obsolete technology is still the backbone of our economy. Self-driving vehicles ex...
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2018-11-20

A Time for Gratitude

An early winter storm has knocked out our Internet connection as I write this. A startling reminder of just how much we rely on the world wide web ...
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2018-10-25

Changing Bearings

Just as “conventional thinking” h...
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2018-10-19

Gleason Announces Hobbing Machine with Integrated Chamfer Hobbing

The new Genesis 160HCD Hobbing Machine for cylindrical gears integrates a newly developed process for chamfer cutting. Chamfer Hobbing ...
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2018-09-27

Acceptable Fixes

You do not always have to say “no” when confronted with non-conforming parts. Here are a few “fixes” I have been comfortable authorizing:

GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2018-09-14

The Usual Suspects

Once you accept that “stuff” happens in even the best of machine shops, you can begin to assess where the problems are likely to occur and start th...
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2018-09-07

Something is not Right Here

Another benefi...
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2018-09-05

Hainbuch Taps Hänel for Mandrel Prototype Test

Hard work and first-class teamwork between the gear factory Hänel and Hainbuch has paid off. The new mandrel Mando G211 for gear manufacturers, sui...
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2018-09-04

Gearbox Design: Let the Fun Begin

It is perfectl...
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2018-09-01

The Evolution of Gear Chamfering

The latest technological solutions help keep chamfering and deburring operations in-line -- often without increasing cycle times.
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2018-06-26

Planetary Gearboxes: A Wheel Inside a Wheel

We will never ...
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2018-06-26

Zoller Highlights Smart Factory Solutions

Zoller Inc. has a new digital playground in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The tooling, inspection and tool management company now has 44,000+ sq. ft. of spa...
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2018-06-20

Gear Materials: You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know

Before we leave our study of materials, I want to share a few thoughts on heat treating, lab tests, and hardness testing. When you start working wi...
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2018-05-17

Computer Games

You kids are spoiled! Back in my day it took at least a day to see the results of computer modeling, longer if the courier dropped the box of input...
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2018-04-30

EMAG Gets Smart with Mobile Analytics

Machine data has never been easier to collect, distribute and analyze. Monitoring production lines, evaluating tools and surveying tool conditions ...
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2018-02-28

It Gets Complicated

Why did something as simple as a standard tooth form fail to get traction? While the old joke about the number of opinions at any meeting of engine...
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2018-02-12

IIoT Spotlight: The Job Shop

As IIoT solutions become more readily available throughout the manufacturing sector, challenges continue when you start looking specifically at the...
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2018-02-07

Seven Stages of Expertise

There is no “gear expert” merit badge for you to earn. I have posted before about the limited amount of gear education included in the standard eng...
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2018-01-30

Appreciating the Spur Gear

When the average civilian hears the word “gear,” if they think of mechanical things at all, they envision a big spur gear, perhaps in a clock or wi...
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2018-01-01

Analysis of the Influence of the Working Angles on the Tool Wear in Gear Hobbing

A calculation method is developed to estimate tool wear on hobs.
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2017-12-12

Engineering Safety (Part One)

Watching the movie Deepwater Horizon got me thinking about current attitudes on workplace safety. (Full disclosure — I am a bit of a cr...
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2017-09-21

Liebherr LC 280 Gear Hobbing Machine Updates Tested Design with New Components

The newly developed LC 280 α gear hobbing machine provides Liebherr quality with maximum flexibility and short delivery times. The ...
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2017-09-01

What's New and Noteworthy in Powder Metal

First, the facts: powder metallurgy is a cost-effective method of forming precision net-shape metal components that allows for more efficiently designed products. It saves valuable raw materials through recycling and the elimination of costly secondary-machining. PM competes with wrought steel gears as the technology continues to advance. You'll find PM components in everything from automobile transmissions to aircraft turbine engines, surgical equipment and power tools.
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2017-08-31

Cost Reduction Ideas

A commentator recently asked for “real world” examples of how he could reduce costs and win more orders. Improved technology is often cited as the ...
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2017-08-08

WZL Gear Conference Highlights Latest Technology

Liebherr Gear Technology Inc. recently hosted the 7th WZL Gear Conference in the USA 2017 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. This two-day program o...
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2017-08-01

Speed Matters - In Racing and in Hobbing

RCD Engineering's switch from manual to CNC hobbing operations breaks gear manufacturing lead time records with Bourn & Koch 100H in their gear production pit crew.
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2017-07-20

Authority and Responsibility

We all got a lesson in leadership from that unfortunate collision between a U.S. Navy destroyer and a container ship off the coast of Japan. The Na...
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2017-07-01

Surface Characteristics of Hobbed Gears

Gear hobbing is one of the most productive manufacturing processes for cylindrical gears. The quality of the gears is a result of the tool quality, the precision of the workpiece, tool clamping and kinematics of the machine. The dry gear hobbing process allows machining of gears with a quality according to the DIN standard up to IT 5. To evaluate which gear quality is possible to machine with a given clamping and hob, it is useful to simulate the process in advance.
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2017-06-23

A Calling, Not a Job

In driving around my new hometown, I am struck by the grandeur of some of the older homes and buildings. Oil City, Pennsylvania was once home to gi...
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2017-06-15

Relocation Time

Today I moved for the seventh time in my career. It is the first time on my tab though so I am probably paying more attention to the process than i...
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2017-04-13

Fundamentals of Maintenance

Modern cars and trucks are wonderfully reliable and durable. As much as I love old cars I cannot cleanse my memory of the heartbreaking behavior th...
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2017-03-10

Third Wave Systems AdvantEdge Software Offers Process Kinematics for Cylindrical Hobbing

Third Wave Systems has released the new AdvantEdge Gear Machining v1.0. As part of the new release, the first version will include cylind...
ASK THE EXPERT | 2017-03-01

Universal Hobs

Another expert takes a crack at a previously answered question about double-helical gears and universal hobs.
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2017-02-14

Faster is Not Always Better

That old “Overhead” article reminded me of what a shock it was when we first moved into cellular manufacturing. After years of investigating ways t...
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2017-01-05

Preserving Our Stuff

  Continuing my rant on important things carelessly trashed by idiots…   A favorite joke in the old car hobby is “My widow will ...
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2016-12-27

Monnier + Zahner MZ 500 D-Drive Gear Hobbing Machine Introduced as Compact Ultra-Fine Pitch Gear Manufacturing Solution

The Monnier + Zahner ("MZ") 500 D-drive gear hobbing machine offers CNC technology in a compact footprint for top-quality fine-...
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2016-12-06

It’s a 24/7/52 World

    This curmudgeon recently got a good lesson on how the Internet has changed the world. My adult children have been trying to get...
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2016-11-18

EMAG VL 4 H Modular Hobbing Machine Combines Hobbing and Chamfering into Single Operation

Koepfer has demonstrated its capabilities in a multitude of projects for a broad clientele. The company's gear cutting experts meet t...
ASK THE EXPERT | 2016-11-01

Locating Multiple Bore Diameters Via Hobbing

Attached photos (Figs. 1-2) show a bushing to locate one single bore. This will be used to locate one single bore diameter of a gear wheel. What is (the latest) technology for common clamping a bushing to locate multiple bore diameters in hobbing?
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2016-10-20

Non-Traditional Manufacturing

While 3-D printing looks for its place in the manufacturing world, other non-traditional methods are finding their way into our gear shops. Some, s...
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2016-10-18

Two Problems, Two Machines, Two Solutions

Delta’s Investment in New Mitsubishi Equipment Adds Capacity, Reduces Cycle Time Dwight Smith, Vice President, Mitsubishi Hea...
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2016-10-11

The Birth of an Industry

Do you know your company’s origin story? I have worked at seven different gear companies and have visited dozens more; all of them seem to have an ...
ASK THE EXPERT | 2016-09-01

Same Hob for Two Gears

I make all the double helical gears that go into a gearbox - four different gears in this unit. If the gear module for the bull gear and the intermediate gear are the same (these are the two individual gears that mate), and the gear module for the high-speed pinion and high-speed gears are the same (these are the other two individual gears that mate in the gear box as well), is it then possible to just use two hobs in this setup to make all four gears, since they mate together with each other? We are currently using a different gear hob for each gear.
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2016-08-08

Gleason Introduces P90CD and P90iC Horizontal Hobbing Machines

Gleason Corporation introduces the P90CD and P90iC horizontal hobbing machines. Now, two new machines from the P-Series enhance the ...
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2016-08-01

Updating Modern Production Processes

Gear Technology interviews Scott Yoders of Liebherr about the latest gear machining technologies of relevance to automotive manufacturers.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2016-07-01

Influence of Hobbing Tool Generating Scallops on Root Fillet Stress Concentrations

While designing gear and spline teeth, the root fillet area and the corresponding maximum tensile stress are primary design considerations for the gear designer. Root fillet tensile stress may be calculated using macro-geometry values such as module, minor diameter, effective fillet radius, face width, etc.
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2016-06-21

Missing the Geek Squad

  One of the things I miss most about full-time work is the presence of knowledgeable, in-house technical support for my comput...
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2016-06-01

Worm Gear Efficiency Estimation and Optimization

This paper outlines the comparison of efficiencies for worm gearboxes with a center distance ranging from 28 - 150 mm that have single reduction from 5 to 100:1. Efficiencies are calculated using several standards (AGMA, ISO, DIN, BS) or by methods defined in other bibliographic references. It also deals with the measurement of torque and temperature on a test rig — required for the calibration of an analytical model to predict worm gearbox efficiency and temperature. And finally, there are examples of experimental activity (wear and friction measurements on a blockon- ring tribometer and the measurements of dynamic viscosity) regarding the effort of improving the efficiency for worm gear drivers by adding nanoparticles of fullerene shape to standard PEG lubricant
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2016-06-01

Bevel Gear Cutting Methods

THE FINAL CHAPTER This is the last in the series of chapters excerpted from Dr. Hermann J. Stadtfeld's Gleason Bevel Gear Technology - a book written for specialists in planning, engineering, gear design and manufacturing. The work also addresses the technical information needs of researchers, scientists and students who deal with the theory and practice of bevel gears and other angular gear systems. While all of the above groups are of course of invaluable importance to the gear industry, it is surely the students who hold the key to its future. And with that knowledge it is reassuring to hear from Dr. Stadtfeld of the enthusiastic response he has received from younger readers of these chapter installments.
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2016-06-01

The Comprehensive Gear Grind

Looking for some simple yet useful advice heading into IMTS 2016? Never second guess your machine tool investment. Flexibility is a mandatory requirement in gear manufacturing today. Accuracy, reliability and efficiency must improve with each new machine tool purchase. Innovation is always the end game. So it comes as no surprise that IMTS 2016 attendees will have plenty of gear grinding technologies to consider this fall.
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2016-05-24

Unforgettable Characters

One of my favorite features in the old Reader’s Digest magazine was the Unforgettable Character column. Each featured person would be celebrated fo...
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2016-05-10

Farm System or Free Agents?

  I had a great conversation with a dedicated company president recently. Rather than get bogged down in the current market slump, he was f...
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2016-03-01

Practical Gear Characteristics: Process Characteristics of the Most Popular Cutting Methods

The cutting process consists of either a roll only (only generating motion), a plunge only or a combination of plunging and rolling. The material removal and flank forming due to a pure generating motion is demonstrated in the simplified sketch in Figure 1 in four steps. In the start roll position (step 1), the cutter profile has not yet contacted the work. A rotation of the work around its axis (indicated by the rotation arrow) is coupled with a rotation of the cutter around the axis of the generating gear (indicated by the vertical arrow) and initiates a generating motion between the not-yet-existing tooth slot of the work and the cutter head (which symbolizes one tooth of the generating gear).
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2016-03-01

Plastic Gearing Continues Converting the Unconverted

Plastic gears are everywhere today - throughout your car, at the oceans' lowest depths, in deep space. The question, when is a metal gear a candidate for plastic conversion, can be addressed in three words, i.e. what's the application?
ASK THE EXPERT | 2016-03-01

Hard-Finishing Spiral Bevel Gears

Could you explain to me the difference between spiral bevel gear process face hobbing-lapping, face milling-grinding and Klingelnberg HPG? Which one is better for noise, load capacity and quality?
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2016-01-28

Room for Improvement

Previous blogs here have celebrated the great advances made in gear industry design capabilities and machine tools. As the “paper of record” for th...
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2015-11-11

Koepfer America K-Powered CNC Gear Hobbing Machine Provides Next Step in Repowering Old Models

Koepfer America recently completed the next step in its K-Repowered CNC re-control program with the first K160 Repowered CNC Gear Hobbing...
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2015-09-18

Koepfer 'Repowered' Model 160 Gear Hobbing Machine to Be Shown at Gear Expo

Koepfer America will showcase a selection of gear hobbing machines.First is the “Repowered” Koepfer Model 160 gear hobbing ma...
ASK THE EXPERT | 2015-09-01

Liebherr - Barber Colman Hob Settings

I would like some instructions for setting the degrees and minutes on a Liebherr or Barber Colman hob. Our machines use a Vernier scale to match the lead angle of the cutter to the part to form straight teeth. There is a dispute on how to do this task, and I wanted insight from another professional.
ASK THE EXPERT | 2015-09-01

Gear Macrogeometry

I have outsourced gear macrogeometry due to lack of resources. Now I received the output from them and one of the gears is with —0.8× module correction factor for m = 1.8 mm gear. Since bending root stress and specific slide is at par with specification, but negative correction factor —0.8× module — is quite high — how will it influence NVH behavior/transmission error? SAP and TIF are very close to 0.05 mm; how will that influence the manufacturing/cost?
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2015-07-17

Index 'Bevel Gear Hobbing Package' Produces Gears With Tooth Height in a Module Range of 0.6 to 4 mm

Index recently developed a “bevel gear hobbing” package, which consists of a control cycle and four Index cutter heads with m...
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2015-07-01

I Like Big Gears and I Cannot Lie!

Many years ago, when asked how the five-meter gear was checked, the quality manager responded, “When they’re that big, they’re never bad!” That may have been the attitude and practice in the past, but it no longer serves the manufacturer nor the customer. Requirements have been evolving steadily, requiring gears to perform better and last longer.
PUBLISHER'S PAGE | 2015-06-01

Good Morning, Class

Since we began publishing in 1984, Gear Technology's mission has been to educate our readers. For 31 years, we've shown you the basics of gear manufacturing as well as the cutting edge. We take our educational mission quite seriously, and we go through steps that most publishers don't have time for or wouldn't consider.
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2015-05-05

Building Your Team

The National Football League (NFL) held its annual draft of college players here in Chicago this past week. It is probably the most publicized huma...
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2015-05-01

Hypoid Gears with Involute Teeth

This paper presents the geometric design of hypoid gears with involute gear teeth. An overview of face cutting techniques prevalent in hypoid gear fabrication is presented. Next, the specification of a planar involute rack is reviewed. This rack is used to define a variable diameter cutter based upon a system of cylindroidal coordinates; thus, a cursory presentation of cylindroidal coordinates is included. A mapping transforms the planar involute rack into a variable diameter cutter using the cylindroidal coordinates. Hypoid gears are based on the envelope of this cutter. A hypoid gear set is presented based on an automotive rear axle.
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2015-03-24

What Gear Trade Milestones Have You Witnessed?

[starbox]Last week’s blog on the Century of AGMA Timeline brought to mind a humorous story of our now adult daughter’s first “play store” set. If y...
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2015-02-25

Gear Motions' Oliver Gear Division Acquires New Hera 350 Gear-Hobbing Machine

Gear Motions, a precision gear manufacturer, recently acquired new gear-cutting technology for its Oliver Gear Division in Buffalo, NY. ...
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2015-01-01

Getting in Gear with the Chain of Innovations

At the dawn of the Industrial Revolution, so-called mechanics were tasked with devising the precise methods that would make mass production possible. The result was the first generation of machine tools, which in turn required improved tooling and production methods.
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2014-11-13

A Good Waste of Time

INDUSTRY NEWS | 2014-11-10

Koepfer Introduces New 'H' Series Hobbing Machines

Koepfer America, L.L.C., introduces the CLC “H” series of heavy duty horizontal gear hobbing machines to the North American g...
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2014-11-04

Catalog Season

The holiday gift catalogs have started to arrive at my house. Over the years our gift list has been pared down, but we occasionally see something unique that is just perfect for someone on the list.
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2014-09-01

Gear Manufacturer Benefits from CAM Initiatives and Advanced Manufacturing Technology

Multiple CAM initiatives at Snyder Industries are improving safety, quality and productivity for parts ranging from 50 to 5,000 lbs.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2014-09-01

Simulation of Deviations in Hobbing and Generation Grinding

The hobbing and generation grinding production processes are complex due to tool geometry and kinematics. Expert knowledge and extensive testing are required for a clear attribution of cause to work piece deviations. A newly developed software tool now makes it possible to simulate the cutting procedure of the tool and superimpose systematic deviations on it. The performance of the simulation software is illustrated here with practical examples. The new simulation tool allows the user to accurately predict the effect of errors. With this knowledge, the user can design and operate optimal, robust gearing processes.
ASK THE EXPERT | 2014-08-01

Importance of Contact Pattern in Assembly of Bevel vs Cylindrical Gears

Why is there so much emphasis on the tooth contact pattern for bevel gears in the assembled condition and not so for cylindrical gears, etc?
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2014-07-24

Leadership 101 — Commitment

[starbox] Much of what I believe about leadership I learned from the scouting program. I was a scout as a boy and when my children reached that ...
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2014-07-01

You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know

[starbox] If ever a situation cried out for a short, texting-friendly acronym it is the unavoidable problem of “You don’t know what you don’t kn...
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2014-05-08

Treasured Gear Books

[starbox] This week’s Helical Gear Rating Committee meetings included a much hoped for improvement: a new member! Not only that, a new member un...
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2014-05-01

Moving Parts

Machine tools boost speed and throughput with automation technology.
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2014-05-01

The Technology Shift

Decades ago, technology shifted from HSS to indexable inserts in turning and milling. This movement wasn't immediately realized in gear hobbing because coated PM-HSS hobs and complex gear profiles remained highly effective and productive methods. Only fairly recently have gear manufacturers started to take a serious look at indexable technology to cut gear teeth.
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2014-05-01

Industry News

The complete Industry News section from the May 2014 issue of Gear Technology.
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2014-04-10

Necessity is the Mother of Invention

[starbox] My last post may have been too hard on the emerging 3-D printing technology. We’ve always celebrated inventors in this country and per...
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2014-03-26

Affolter Offers Gear Hobbing Center

Affolter Technologies SA presents its most recent innovation. "The GEAR AF110 sets a new benchmark in regards to flexibility, high precision and stiffness...
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2014-03-24

Great Moments in Gear Rating

[starbox] By now readers of this Blog are aware of my interest in gear trade history. The more I learn about how we got to this point in our und...
PRODUCT NEWS | 2014-03-01

Product News

The complete product news section from the March/April 2014 issue, featuring quick-change spline rolling racks from U.S. Gear Tools.
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2014-02-28

Internships: How Does the Employer Benefit? Part II

[starbox] In my previous post I talked about the official ways an internship program benefited our company. Today I’d like to talk about a coupl...
GEAR TALK WITH CHUCK | 2014-01-27

How Did You Become a Gear Expert?

[starbox] Some months ago I got a call from a young engineer asking how he could get into the consulting business. It was a flattering call but a ...
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2013-10-22

Felsomat Offers FlexHobbingCenter FHC

The FHC 180 with integrated automation, cannot only hob, but also chamfer and deburr simultaneously without increasing the downtime. The ...
PUBLISHER'S PAGE | 2013-08-01

Gear Expo - Mecca Meccanica

It's an ideal time for a pilgrimage to AGMA’s Fall Technical Meeting and Gear Expo, which take place in Indianapolis.
ASK THE EXPERT | 2013-06-01

Worn Gear Contact Analysis

How does one perform a contact analysis for worn gears? Our expert responds.
EVENTS | 2013-06-01

Liebherr Touts Technology at Latest Gear Seminar

For two days in Saline, Michigan, Liebherr's clients, customers and friends came together to discuss the latest gear products and technology. Peter Wiedemann, president of Liebherr Gear Technology Inc., along with Dr.-Ing. Alois Mundt, managing director, Dr.-Ing. Oliver Winkel, head of application technology, and Dr.-Ing. Andreas Mehr, technology development shaping and grinding, hosted a variety of informative presentations.
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2013-05-01

Operating Pressure Angle

What is the difference between pressure angle and operating pressure angle?
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2013-03-01

How Gear Hobbing Works

Hobbing is one of the most fundamental processes in gear manufacturing. Its productivity and versatility make hobbing the gear manufacturing method of choice for a majority of spur and helical gears.
PRODUCT NEWS | 2013-01-01

Progress in Gear Milling

Sandvik presents the latest in gear milling technologies.
PRODUCT NEWS | 2013-01-01

Product News

The complete Product News section from the January/February 2013 issue of Gear Technology.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2012-05-01

An Innovative Way of Designing Gear Hobbing Processes

In today’s manufacturing environment, shorter and more efficient product development has become the norm. It is therefore important to consider every detail of the development process, with a particular emphasis on design. For green machining of gears, the most productive and important process is hobbing. In order to analyze process design for this paper, a manufacturing simulation was developed capable of calculating chip geometries and process forces based on different models. As an important tool for manufacturing technology engineers, an economic feasibility analysis is implemented as well. The aim of this paper is to show how an efficient process design—as well as an efficient process—can be designed.
VOICES | 2012-01-01

The Global Challenge to America's Engineering and Innovation Position

John P. Walter and Abby Dress analyze the challenges facing America's manufacturers to remain competitive in a global environment.
PRODUCT NEWS | 2011-11-01

Liebherr's LDF350 Offers Complete Machining in New Dimension

The objective, according to Dr.- Ing. Hansjörg Geiser, head of development and design for gear machines at Liebherr, was to develop and design a combined turning and hobbing machine in which turning, drilling and hobbing work could be carried out in the same clamping arrangement as the hobbing of the gearings and the subsequent chamfering and deburring processes.
PRODUCT NEWS | 2011-10-01

LMT Fette Introduces SpeedCore

New material technology allows for more efficient and flexible hobbing.
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2011-09-01

Next Stop Cincinnati

What's not to like about a more focused, user-friendly Gear Expo? Booth Previews.
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2011-08-01

Chiming in on Gear Noise: Three Experts Have their Say

It is said that “The squeaky wheel gets the grease.” Ok, but what about gear noise? We talked to three experts with considerable knowledge and experience in this area.
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2011-06-01

Gear Hobbing Technology Update

Q&A with Liebherr's Dr. Alois Mundt.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2011-03-01

Optimal Modifications of Gear Tooth Surfaces

In this paper a new method for the introduction of optimal modifications into gear tooth surfaces - based on the optimal corrections of the profile and diameter of the head cutter, and optimal variation of machine tool settings for pinion and gear finishing—is presented. The goal of these tooth modifications is the achievement of a more favorable load distribution and reduced transmission error. The method is applied to face milled and face hobbed hypoid gears.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2011-01-01

Spiral Bevel Gears: Tribology Aspects in Angular Transmission Systems, Part IV

This article is part four of an eight-part series on the tribology aspects of angular gear drives. Each article will be presented first and exclusively by Gear Technology, but the entire series will be included in Dr. Stadtfeld’s upcoming book on the subject, which is scheduled for release in 2011.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2010-11-01

The Effect of Straight-Sided Hob Teeth

It is well known that hobs with straight-sided teeth do not cut true involutes. In this paper, the difference between the straight side of a hob tooth and the axial profile of an involute worm is evaluated. It is shown that the difference increases as the diametral pitch increases, to the extent that for fine-pitch gearing, the difference is insignificant.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2010-05-01

Software-Based Process Design in Gear Finish Hobbing

In this paper, the potential for geometrical cutting simulations - via penetration calculation to analyze and predict tool wear as well as to prolong tool life - is shown by means of gear finish hobbing. Typical profile angle deviations that occur with increasing tool wear are discussed. Finally, an approach is presented here to attain improved profile accuracy over the whole tool life of the finishing hob.
VOICES | 2010-03-01

Crowning: A Cheap Fix for Noise and Misalignment Problems

Fred Young, CEO of Forest City Gear, talks about sophisticated gear manufacturing methods and how they can help solve common gear-related problems.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2010-03-01

New Developments in Gear Hobbing

Several innovations have been introduced to the gear manufacturing industry in recent years. In the case of gear hobbing—the dry cutting technology and the ability to do it with powder-metallurgical HSS—might be two of the most impressive ones. And the technology is still moving forward. The aim of this article is to present recent developments in the field of gear hobbing in conjunction with the latest improvements regarding tool materials, process technology and process integration.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2009-09-01

Comparison of PM-HSS and Cemented Carbide Tools in High-Speed Gear Hobbing

This article examines the dry hobbing capabilities of two cutting tool materials—powder metallurgical high-speed steel (PM-HSS) and cemented carbide. Cutting trials were carried out to analyze applicable cutting parameters and possible tool lives as well as the process reliability. To consider the influences of the machinability of different workpiece materials, a case hardening steel and a tempered steel were examined.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2009-07-01

Extending the Benefits of Elemental Gear Inspection

It may not be widely recognized that most of the inspection data supplied by inspection equipment, following the practices of AGMA Standard 2015 and similar standards, are not of elemental accuracy deviations but of some form of composite deviations. This paper demonstrates the validity of this “composite” label by first defining the nature of a true elemental deviation and then, by referring to earlier literature, demonstrating how the common inspection practices for involute, lead (on helical gears), pitch, and, in some cases, total accumulated pitch, constitute composite measurements.
PRODUCT NEWS | 2009-05-01

Product News

The complete Product News section from the May 2009 issue of Gear Technology.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2009-03-01

Hob Tool Life Technology Update

The method of cutting teeth on a cylindrical gear by the hobbing process has been in existence since the late 1800s. Advances have been made over the years in both the machines and the cutting tools used in the process. This paper will examine hob tool life and the many variables that affect it. The paper will cover the state-of-the-art cutting tool materials and coatings, hob tool design characteristics, process speeds and feeds, hob shifting strategies, wear characteristics, etc. The paper will also discuss the use of a common denominator method for evaluating hob tool life in terms of meters (or inches) per hob tooth as an alternative to tool life expressed in parts per sharpening.
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2009-01-01

Big Gears - High Standards, High Profits

Natural resources—minerals, coal, oil, agricultural products, etc.—are the blessings that Mother Earth confers upon the nations of the world. But it takes unnaturally large gears to extract them.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2007-11-01

Optimal Choice of the Shaft Angle for Involute Hobbing

With reference to the machining of an involute spur or helical gear by the hobbing process, this paper suggests a new criterion for selecting the position of the hob axis relative to the gear axis.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2007-08-01

True Bending Stress in Spur Gears

In this paper, an accurate FEM analysis has been done of the “true” stress at tooth root of spur gears in the function of the gear geometry. The obtained results confirm the importance of these differences.
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2007-01-10

Koepfer’s Versatile MZ 130 Provides Same-Setup Gear Hobbing and Worm Milling

Koepfer’s MZ130 hobbing and worm milling CNC machine from Monnier + Zahner was designed with versatility and ease of use in mind. ...
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2007-01-01

Labor Pains in the American Gear Industry--Any Relief in Sight

Lack of skilled workers mirrors U.S. manufacturing's decline.
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2006-04-11

Alpha Gear’s Gearmotor Offers Significant Reduction in Inertia

The TPM from alpha gear drives Inc. is a geared motor containing a rotary actuator based on an AC servo motor and high precision planetar...
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2006-03-09

TSA America Relocates, Appoints New Sales Manager

Janice Thomas was appointed sales manager for the gear cutting tools product line of TSA America. According to the company's pres...
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2006-02-15

Gleason Introduces Newest Hobbing Machine

The new Genesis 130H CNC vertical hobbing machine features a design that optimizes dry machining, reduces floor space and improves cycle ...
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2006-02-03

New Brake for Gearless Drives

Ortlinghaus has introduced the DIMO braking system for gearless applications. The brake is electromagnetically actuated. According to...
PRODUCT NEWS | 2006-01-01

Finish Hobbing Crowned Helical Gears without Twist

New tool from LMT-Fette provides combination of operations.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2006-01-01

Kinematical Simulation of Face Hobbing Indexing and Tooth Surface Generation of Spiral Bevel and Hypoid Gears

In addition to the face milling system, the face hobbing process has been developed and widely employed by the gear industry. However, the mechanism of the face hobbing process is not well known.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2006-01-01

Investigation of the Noise and Vibration of Planetary Gear Drives

With the aim of reducing the operating noise and vibration of planetary gear sets used in automatic transmissions, a meshing phase difference was applied to the planet gears that mesh with the sun and ring gears.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2005-09-01

A Split Happened on the Way to Reliable, Higher-Volume Gear Grinding

Bevel gear manufacturers live in one of two camps: the face hobbing/lapping camp, and the face milling/grinding camp.
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2005-04-13

New North American Subsidiary for Atlanta GmbH

Atlanta GmbH in Bietingheim-Bissingen, Germany, announced the formation of its new North American subsidiary, Atlanta Drive Systems Inc.,...
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2005-03-26

First 7-Speed Gearbox has a Shift Plate of DuPont Zytel

A shift plate made of DuPont Zytel nylon carries the fully integrated gear change control system of DaimlerChrysler’s 7G-Tronic seve...
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2005-03-09

New Furnace from Grieve

The No. 943 pit furnace from Grieve is an electrically heated, top loading pit furnace capable of 2,000 degrees F and is suitable for hea...
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2005-02-27

Boswell Acquires Majority Interest in SECO/Warwick

Jeffrey W. Boswell has acquired the majority interest in SECO/Warwick and has been named president and CEO. SECO/Warwick Ltd. Poland w...
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2005-02-24

New Gear Hobbing Center from Koepfer EMAG

The VSC 250/400 DUO WF from EMAG Koepfer allows complete soft machining of gears on a single machine. According to the company’s ...
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2005-01-28

New Wireless Spindle Probe from Marposs

The new Mida TT30 touch-trigger spindle probe from Marposs Corp. incorporates high-frequency signal transmissiom. Additional features ...
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2004-11-01

Remedies for Cutting Edge Failure of Carbide Hob due to Chip Crush

Some results of evaluation by this method in the automotive industry.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2004-09-01

Simulation of Hobbing for Analysis of Cutting Edge Failure due to Chip Crush

There are great advantages in dry hobbing, not only for friendliness toward the environment, but also for increasing productivity and for decreasing manufacturing cost. Dry hobbing, however, often causes failures in hob cutting edges or problems with the surface quality of gear tooth flanks. These difficulties are not present when hobbing with cutting oil. Pinching and crushing of generated chips between the hob cutting edge and the work gear tooth flank is considered a major cause of those problems.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2004-03-01

Hobbing Precise, Uniform End Chamfers

The seemingly simple process of placing a uniform chamfer on the face ends of spur and helical gears, at least for the aerospace industry, has never been a satisfactory or cost effective process.
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2004-01-01

New Potentials in Carbide Hobbing

To meet the future goals of higher productivity and lower production costs, the cutting speeds and feeds in modern gear hobbing applications have to increase further. In several cases, coated carbide tools have replaced the commonly used high speed steel (HSS) tools.
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2003-12-14

Absolute Machine Tools Adds New Product Line

Absolute Machine Tools has entered into an exclusive marketing agreement with Lih Chang Machinery Co., Ltd. of Taiwan to carry its Argo S...
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2003-12-06

New Finishing Process from Kapp

The Kapp Group has introduced a combined process for hard finishing transmission gears that involves two machines?one for grinding and th...
FEATURE ARTICLES | 2003-11-01

High Accurate Hobbing with Specially Designed Finishing Hobs

Load-carrying capacity of gears, especially the surface durability, is influenced by their tooth surface roughness in addition to their tooth profiles and tooth traces.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2003-07-01

On a Possible Way of Size and Weight Reduction of a Car Transmission

Almost any external tooth form that is uniformly spaced around a center can be hobbed. Hobbing is recognized as an economical means of producing spur and helical gears with involute tooth profiles.
PRODUCT NEWS | 2003-05-01

Product News

Complete Product News for May/June 2003.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2003-05-01

The Two-Sided-Ground Bevel Cutting Tool

In the past, the blades of universal face hobbing cutters had to be resharpened on three faces. Those three faces formed the active part of the blade. In face hobbing, the effective cutting direction changes dramatically with respect to the shank of the blade. Depending on the individual ratio, it was found that optimal conditions for the chip removal action (side rake, side relief and hook angle) could just be established by adjusting all major parameters independently. This, in turn, results automatically in the need for the grinding or resharpening of the front face and the two relief surfaces in order to control side rake, hook angle and the relief and the relief angles of the cutting and clearance side.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2002-05-01

Carbide Hobbing Case Study

Bodine Electric Co. of Chicago, IL., has a 97-year history of fine-and medium-pitch gear manufacturing. Like anywhere else, traditions, old systems, and structures can be beneficial, but they can also become paradigms and obstacles to further improvements. We were producing a high quality product, but our goal was to become more cost effective. Carbide hobbing is seen as a technological innovation capable of enabling a dramatic, rather than an incremental, enhancement to productivity and cost savings.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2001-09-01

Face Gears: An Interesting Alternative for Special Applications - Calculation, Production and Use

Crown gearings are not a new type of gear system. On the contrary, they have been in use since very early times for various tasks. Their earliest form is that of the driving sprocket, found in ancient Roman watermills or Dutch windmills. The first principles of gear geometry and simple methods of production (shaper cutting) were developed in the 1940s. In the 1950s, however, crown gears' importance declined. Their tasks were, for example, taken over by bevel gears, which were easier to manufacture and could transmit greater power. Current subject literature accordingly contains very little information on crown gears, directed mainly to pointing out their limitations (Ref. 1).
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2001-03-01

Dry Hobbing Process Technology Road Map

Recent trends in gear cutting technology have left process engineers searching for direction about which combination of cutting tool material, coating, and process technology will afford the best quality at the lowest total cost. Applying the new technologies can have associated risks that may override the potential cost savings. The many interrelated variables to be considered and evaluated tend to cloud the issue and make hobbing process development more difficult.
INDUSTRY NEWS | 2001-01-01

Industry News

Complete Industry News for January/February 2001.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2000-07-01

Precision Finish Hobbing

Nowadays, finish hobbing (which means that there is no post-hobbing gear finishing operation) is capable of producing higher quality gears and is growing in popularity.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 2000-03-01

Reducing Production Costs in Cylindrical Gear Hobbing and Shaping

Increased productivity in roughing operations for gear cutting depends mainly on lower production costs in the hobbing process. In addition, certain gears can be manufactured by shaping, which also needs to be taken into account in the search for a more cost-effective form of production.
PUBLISHER'S PAGE | 1999-03-01

Navigating Uncharted Waters in Cyberspace

I'd like to share with you a vision of the future. It takes place in cyberspace, and it's coming soon to a computer near you. Whether you like it or not, and whether you're ready or not, the Internet is changing the way business is conducted.
INDUSTRY NEWS | 1998-07-01

Industry News

Industry News for July/August 1998.
FEATURE ARTICLES | 1998-03-01

New Guideless CNC Shaper for Helical Gears

Product announcements so often trumpet minor, incremental advances with works like "revolutionary" and "unique" that even the best thesaurus can fail to offer a fresh alternative to alert the reader when something really innovative and important is introduced. In the case of Mitsubishi's new CNC gear shaper, the ST25CNC, both terms apply.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 1998-01-01

Production Increase When Hobbing with Carbide Hobs

We are all looking for ways to increase production without sacrificing quality. One of the most cost-effective ways is by improving the substrate material of your hob. Solid carbide hobs are widely used in many applications throughout the world. LMT-Fette was the first to demonstrate the use of solid carbide hobs in 1993 on modern high-speed carbide (HSC) hobbing machines. Since then the process of dry hobbing has been continuously improving through research and product testing. Dry hobbing is proving to be successful in the gear cutting industry as sales for dry hobbing machines have steadily been rising along with the dramatic increase in sales of solid carbide hobs.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 1997-05-01

Eddy Current Examination of Gear Systems

Nondestructive examination (NDE) of ferrous and nonferrous materials has long proved an effective maintenance and anomaly characterization tool for many industries. Recent research has expanded its applicability to include the inspection of large, open gear drives. Difficulties inherent in other NDE methods make them time-consuming and labor-intensive. They also present the user with the environmental problem of the disposal of used oil. The eddy current method addresses these problems.
VOICES | 1997-03-01

Dry Hobbing: Another Point of View

I would like to comment on David Arnesen's article, "Dry Hobbing Saves Automaker Money, Improves Gear Quality," in the Nov/Dec, 1996 issue.
FEATURE ARTICLES | 1996-11-01

Dry Hobbing Saves Automaker Money, Improves Gear Quality

It takes confidence to be the first to invest in new manufacturing technology. But the payback can be significant. That has been the experience at the Ford Motor Company's Transmission & Chassis Division plant at Indianapolis, IN, which boasts the world's first production application of dry hobbing.
FEATURE ARTICLES | 1996-09-01

AGMA & MPIF Develop Standards, Information Sheet for Powder Metal Gears

AGMA and members of the Metal Powder Industries Federation (MPIF) are three years into a joint project to develop specifications and an information sheet on rating powder metal gears. According to committee vice chairman Glen A. Moore of Burgess-Norton Mfg. Co., the first phase of the project, the publication of AGMA Standard "6009-AXX, Specifications for Powder Metallurgy Gears," should be completed in late 1996 or early 1997.
FEATURE ARTICLES | 1996-05-01

Cutting Tools Now

The cutting tool is basic to gear manufacturing. Whether it's a hob, broach, shaper cutter or EDM wire, not much gets done without it. And the mission of the tool remains the same as always; removing material as quickly, accurately and cost-effectively as possible. Progress in the field tends to be evolutionary, coming gradually over time, but recently, a confluence of emerging technologies and new customer demands has caused significant changes in the machines, the materials and the coatings that make cutting tools.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 1996-03-01

The Effect of Metallurgy on the Performance of Carburized Gears

Gears are designed to be manufactured, processed and used without failure throughout the design life of the gear. One of INFAC's objectives (*see p.24) is to help manufacture of gears to optimize performance and life. One way to achieve this is to identify failure mechanisms and then devise strategies to overcome them by modifying the manufacturing parameters.
FEATURE ARTICLES | 1995-07-01

George Wyss & Dennis Richmond of Reishauer Corporation

For this interview, we spoke with George Wyss, president, and Dennis Richmond, vice president of Reishauer Corporation about gear grinding and its place in gear manufacturing today.
INDUSTRY NEWS | 1995-07-01

INFAC Reports on Recent Hobbing and Heat Treating Experiments

Chicago- Results of recent studies on residual stress in gear hobbing, hobbing without lubricants and heat treating were reported by representatives of INFAC (Instrumented Factory for Gears) at an industry briefing in March of this year.
INDUSTRY NEWS | 1995-07-01

Dry Gear Hobbing

Question: We are contemplating purchasing a hobbing machine with dry hobbing capabilities. What do we need to know about the special system requirements for this technology?
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 1995-07-01

How to Avoid Errors When Measuring Step Gears

There are problems in dimensional measurement that should be simple to solve with standard measuring procedures, but aren't. In such cases, using accepted practices may result in errors of hundreds of microns without any warning that something is wrong.
FEATURE ARTICLES | 1995-05-01

CNC Software Savvy

Question: When we purchase our first CNC gear hobbing machine, what questions should we ask about the software? What do we need to know to correctly specify the system requirements?
ADDENDUM | 1995-03-01

The Second Edition...

Gearing for Munchkins Gene Kasten, president of Repair Parts, Inc., of Rockford, IL, is the proud owner of a miniature Barber-Colman hobber, the only one of its kind in the world. The machine, a replica of the old B-C "A" machine, was built between 1933 and 1941 by W. W. Dickover, who devoted 2, 640 hours of his spare time to the project.
FEATURE ARTICLES | 1995-03-01

What to Look For Before You Leap

Question: We are interested in purchasing our first gear hobbing machine. What questions should we ask the manufacturer, and what do we need to know in order to correctly specify the CNC hardware and software system requirements?
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 1994-11-01

Gear Hobbing Without Coolant

For environmental and economic reasons, the use of coolant in machining processes is increasingly being questioned. Rising coolant prices and disposal costs, as well as strains on workers and the environment, have fueled the debate. The use of coolant has given rise to a highly technical system for handling coolant in the machine (cooling, filtering) and protecting the environment (filter, oil-mist collector). In this area the latest cutting materials - used with or without coolant - have great potential for making the metal-removal process more economical. The natural progression to completely dry machining has decisive advantages for hobbing.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 1994-11-01

New Innovations in Hobbing - Part II

The first part of this article, which ran in the September/October 1994 issue, explained the fundamentals of gear hobbing and some of the latest techniques, including methods of hob performance analysis and new tool configurations, being used to solve specific application problems. In this issue, the author continues his exploration of hobbing by describing the effects of progress on requirements in accuracy, as well as the latest in materials, coating and dry hobbing.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 1994-09-01

New Innovations in Hobbing - Part I

Prior to the introduction of titanium nitride to the cutting tool industry in the early 1980s, there was very little progress in the general application of hobbing in the gear cutting industry. The productivity gains realized with this new type of coating initiated a very active time of advancement in the gear manufacturing process.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 1994-07-01

Computerized Hob Inspection & Applications of Inspection Results Part II

Flute Index Flute index or spacing is defined as the variation from the desired angle between adjacent or nonadjacent tooth faces measured in a plane of rotation. AGMA defines and provides tolerance for adjacent and nonadjacent flute spacing errors. In addition, DIN and ISO standards provide tolerances for individual flute variation (Fig. 1).
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 1994-05-01

Computerized Hob Inspection & Applications of Inspection Results - Part I

Can a gear profile generated by the hobbing method be an ideal involute? In strictly theoretical terms - no, but in practicality - yes. A gear profile generated by the hobbing method is an approximation of the involute curve. Let's review a classic example of an approximation.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 1994-05-01

Carbide Rehobbing A New Technology That Works!

Many people in the gear industry have heard of skiving, a process wherein solid carbide or inserted carbide blade hobs with 15 - 60 degrees of negative rake are used to recut gears to 62 Rc. The topic of this article is the use of neutral (zero) rake solid carbide hobs to remove heat treat distortion, achieving accuracies of AGMA 8 to AGMA 14, DIN 10-5 and improving surface finish on gears from 8 DP - 96 DP (.3 module - .26 m.).
INDUSTRY NEWS | 1994-05-01

Choosing An ISO 9000 Consultant: Why, When & How

On of the key questions confronting any company considering ISO 9000 certification is, how much is this going to cost? The up-front fees are only the beginning. Dissect the ISO 9000 certification procedure with an eye for hidden costs, and two segments of the process will leap out - the cost of consultants and the cost of making in-house improvements for the sake of passing certification. Most of these costs can be controlled by careful selection f the right consultant in the first place.
INDUSTRY NEWS | 1994-01-01

The Gear Hobbing Process

Gear hobbing is a generating process. The term generating refers to the fact that the gear tooth form cut is not the conjugate form of the cutting tool, the hob. During hobbing both the hob and the workpiece rotate in a continuous rotational relationship. During this rotation, the hob is typically fed axially with all the teeth being gradually formed as the tool traverses the work face (see Fig. 1a).
INDUSTRY NEWS | 1994-01-01

Cutting Worm Gears with Standard Gear Hobs

We make a lot of single-start worm and worm gear sets, and it always seems as though we're buying another special hob. We also do a lot of spur gear cutting, and the spur gear hobs and the worm gear hobs look alike, so we wonder why we cannot use the standard hobs for cutting worm gears too. Can we do this?
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 1993-11-01

Hob Basics Part II

This is Part II of a two-part series on the basics of gear hobbing. Part I discussed selection of the correct type of hobbing operation, the design features of hobs and hob accuracy. This part will cover sharpening errors and finish hob design considerations.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 1993-09-01

Hob Basics Part I

The Hobbing Process The hobbing process involves a hob which is threaded with a lead and is rotated in conjunction with the gear blank at a ratio dependent upon the number of teeth to be cut. A single thread hob cutting a 40-tooth gear will make 40 revolutions for each revolution of the gear. The cutting action in hobbing is continuous, and the teeth are formed in one passage of the hob through the blank. See Fig. 1 for a drawing of a typical hob with some common nomenclature.
ASK THE EXPERT | 1993-05-01

Using Hobs for Skiving; A Pre-Finish and Finishing Solution

Our company manufactures a range of hardened and ground gears. We are looking into using skiving as part of our finishing process on gears in the 4-12 module range made form 17 CrNiMO6 material and hardened to between 58 and 62 Rc. Can you tell us more about this process?

TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 1993-01-01

High Technology Hobs

Today's high technology hobs are visible different from their predecessors. Gear hobs have taken on a different appearance and function with present day technology and tool and material development. This article shows the newer products being offered today and the reasons for investigating their potential for use in today's modern gear hobbers, where cost reduction and higher productivity are wanted.
INDUSTRY NEWS | 1992-07-01

Cutting Low-Pitch-Angle Bevel Gears, Worm Gears and The Oil Entry Gap

Question: Do machines exist that are capable of cutting bevel gear teeth on a gear of the following specifications: 14 teeth, 1" circular pitch, 14.5 degrees pressure angle, 4 degrees pitch cone angle, 27.5" cone distance, and an 2.5" face width?
INDUSTRY NEWS | 1992-03-01

Our Experts Discuss Hobbing Ridges, Crooked Gear Teeth, and Crown Shaving

Question: When cutting worm gears with multiple lead stock hobs we find the surface is "ridged". What can be done to eliminate this appearance or is to unavoidable?
VOICES | 1991-11-01

Viewpoint

Dear Editor: In Mr. Yefim Kotlyar's article "Reverse Engineering" in the July/August issue, I found an error in the formula used to calculate the ACL = Actual lead from the ASL = Assumed lead.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 1991-09-01

SPC Acceptance of Hobbing & Shaping Machines

Today, as part of filling a typical gear hobbing or shaping machine order, engineers are required to perform an SPC acceptance test. This SPC test, while it is contractually necessary for machine acceptance, is not a machine acceptance test. It is a process capability test. It is an acceptance of the machine, cutting tool, workholding fixture, and workpiece as integrated on the cutting machine, using a gear measuring machine, with its work arbor and evaluation software, to measure the acceptance elements of the workpiece.
INDUSTRY NEWS | 1991-07-01

Pineapples, Corncobs & Other Hobbing Matters

Two questions on hobbing cover the various types of hobs and their unusual names, as well as the importance of hob swivel angle.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 1991-05-01

Carbide Hobs

The following article is a collection of data intended to give the reader a general overview of information related to a relatively new subject within the gear cutting industry. Although carbide hobbing itself is not necessarily new, some of the methods and types of application are. While the subject content of this article may be quite broad, it should not be considered all-inclusive. The actual results obtained and the speeds, feeds, and tool life used in carbide hobbing applications can vary significantly.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 1991-05-01

The Lubrication of Gears - Part II

What follows is Part 2 of a three-part article covering the principles of gear lubrication. Part 2 gives an equation for calculating the lubricant film thickness, which determines whether the gears operate in the boundary, elastohydrodynamic, or full-film lubrication regime. An equation for Blok's flash temperature, which is used for predicting the risk of scuffing, is also given.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 1991-03-01

Bevel Gear Manufacturing Troubleshooting

The quality of gearing is a function of many factors ranging from design, manufacturing processes, machine capability, gear steel material, the machine operator, and the quality control methods employed. This article discusses many of the bevel gear manufacturing problems encountered by gear manufacturers and some of the troubleshooting techniques used.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 1989-07-01

Estimating Hobbing Times

Hobbing is a continuous gear generation process widely used in the industry for high or low volume production of external cylindrical gears. Depending on the tooth size, gears and splines are hobbed in a single pass or in a two-pass cycle consisting of a roughing cut followed by a finishing cut. State-of-the-art hobbing machines have the capability to vary cutting parameters between first and second cut so that a different formula is used to calculate cycle times for single-cut and double-cut hobbing.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 1988-11-01

Gear Tooth Profile Determination From Arbitrary Rack Geometry

This article describes a method of obtaining gear tooth profiles from the geometry of the rack (or hob) that is used to generate the gear. This method works for arbitrary rack geometries, including the case when only a numerical description of the rack is available. Examples of a simple rack, rack with protuberances and a hob with root chamfer are described. The application of this technique to the generation of boundary element meshes for gear tooth strength calculation and the generation of finite element models for the frictional contact analysis of gear pairs is also described.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 1988-07-01

High Speed Hobbing of Gears With Shifted Profiles

The newer profile-shifted (long and short addendum) gears are often used as small size reduction gears for automobiles or motorcycles. The authors have investigated the damage to each cutting edge when small size mass-produced gears with shifted profiles are used at high speeds.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 1988-03-01

Contact Surface Topology of Worm Gear Teeth

Among the various types of gearing systems available to the gear application engineer is the versatile and unique worm and worm gear set. In the simpler form of a cylindrical worm meshing at 90 degree axis angle with an enveloping worm gear, it is widely used and has become a traditional form of gearing. (See Fig. 1) This is evidenced by the large number of gear shops specializing in or supplying such gear sets in unassembled form or as complete gear boxes. Special designs as well as standardized ratio sets covering wide ratio ranges and center distanced are available with many as stock catalog products.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 1987-11-01

Selection of Hobbing Data

The art of gear hobbing has advanced dramatically since the development and introduction of unique machine and tool features such as no backlash, super rigidity, automatic loading of cutting tools, CNC controls, additional machine power and improved cutter materials and coatings. It is essential to utilize all these features to run the machine economically.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 1987-11-01

Good Gears Start With Good Blanks

The quality of the finished gear is influenced by the very first machining operations of the blank. Since the gear tooth geometry is generated on a continuously rotating blank in hobbing or shaping, it is important that the timed relationship between the cutter and workpiece is correct. If this relationship is disturbed by eccentricities of the blank to its operating centerline, the generated gear teeth will not be of the correct geometry. During the blanking operations, the gear's centerline and locating surfaces are established and must be maintained as the same through the following operations that generate the gear teeth.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 1987-09-01

Effects of Hob Quality and Resharpening Errors on Generating Accuracy

The modern day requirement for precision finished hobbed gears, coupled with the high accuracy characteristics of modern CNC hobbing machines, demands high tool accuracy.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 1987-03-01

The Effect of Reverse Hobbing at a High Speed

Today it is common practice when climb hobbing to keep the direction of the hob thread the same as that of the helical gear. The same generalization holds true for the mass production of gears for automobiles. It is the authors' opinion, however, that conventional hobbing with a reverse-handed hob is more effective for the high-speed manufacture of comparatively small module gears for automobiles. The authors have proven both experimentally and theoretically that reverse-handed conventional hobbing, using a multi-thread hob with a smaller diameter is very effective for lengthening the life of the hob and for increasing cutting efficiency at high speeds.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 1987-03-01

Economics of CNC Gear Hobbing

NC and CNC metal cutting machines are among the most popular machine tools in the business today, There is also a strong trend toward using flexible machining centers and flexible manufacturing systems. The same trend is apparent in gear cutting. Currently the trend toward CNC tools has increased, and sophisticated controls and peripheral equipment for gear cutting machines are now available; however, the investment in a CNC gear machine has to be justified on the basis of economic facts as well as technical advantages.
INDUSTRY NEWS | 1987-01-01

Gear Manufacturing Methods - Forming the Teeth

The forming of gear teeth has traditionally been a time-consuming heavy stock removal operation in which close tooth size, shape, runout and spacing accuracy are required. This is true whether the teeth are finished by a second forming operation or a shaving operation.
VOICES | 1986-07-01

Viewpoint

Since we are a high volume shop, we were particularly interested in Mr. Kotlyar's article describing the effects of hob length on production efficiency which appeared in the Sept/Oct issue of Gear Technology. Unfortunately, some readers many be unnecessarily deterred from applying the analysis to their own situations by the formidabilty of the mathematical calculations. I am making the following small suggestion concerning the evaluation of the constant terms.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 1986-03-01

Controlling Tooth Loads In Helical Gears

Helical gears can drive either nonparallel or parallel shafts. When these gears are used with nonparallel shafts, the contact is a point, and the design and manufacturing requirements are less critical than for gears driving parallel shafts.
VOICES | 1985-11-01

Industry Forum

One of the current research activities here at California State University at Fullerton is systematization of existing knowledge of design of planetary gear trains.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 1985-09-01

Hob Length Effects

Hobbing is probably the most popular gear manufacturing process. Its inherent accuracy and productivity makes it a logical choice for a wide range of sizes.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 1985-03-01

Hard Gear Processing with Skiving Hobs

As we approach the problem of hard gear processing, it is well to take a look at the reason for discussing it at this time. In our present economic atmosphere throughout the world, more and more emphasis is being placed upon efficiency which is dictated by higher energy costs.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 1985-03-01

Tooth Forms for Hobs

The gear hobbing process is a generating type of production operation. For this reason, the form of the hob tooth is always different from the form of the tooth that it produces.
TECHNICAL ARTICLES | 1984-08-01

Economics of CNC Gear Gashing vs. Large D.P. Hobbing

Gear gashing is a gear machining process, very much like gear milling, utilizing the principle of cutting one or more tooth (or tooth space) at a time. The term "GASHING" today applies to the roughing, or roughing and finishing, of coarse diametral pitch gears and sprockets. Manufacturing these large coarse gears by conventional methods of rough and finish hobbing can lead to very long machining cycles and uneconomical machine utilization.
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