Abstract: A cutter head including a cutter body portion having a first outer surface and a second outer surface located inward of the first outer surface. Both first and second outer surfaces are interrupted by a plurality of blade receiving slots which extend inward into the cutter body portion. The first and second outer surfaces are arranged such that an annular projection is formed protruding from the second outer surface and extending to the first outer surface. The annular projection is also interrupted by the plurality of cutting blade slots thus forming a plurality of individual projections. The cutter head additionally includes a clamping ring extending about the cutter body and secured to the annular projection.

Abstract: A method for the precision machining of flanks of gear-wheel-shaped workpieces, in particular those with convex teeth, using an internally toothed tool with crossed axes, in which simultaneous relative movements take place not only in three mutually perpendicular axes but also around an axis perpendicular to the cross-axes angle such that not only the tooth flanks of the tool and the workpiece have tangential contact with one another but also the base body of the tool and of the workpiece touch one another at a point of contact IV of which the position changes continuously, and a straight line g orthogonally penetrating the base body of the tool and the base body of the workpiece at the point of contact not only intersects the axis C.sub.1 of the workpiece or of its base body and the axis C.sub.2 of the tool or its base body (points III, II), but also passes through the center I of an ideal sphere K.sub.1 which adapts itself to the base body of the workpiece at the point of contact IV.

Abstract: An apparatus for directing chips emanating from a workpiece being machined by a tool toward an outlet spaced from the workpiece. The apparatus comprises an enclosure surrounding the workpiece and tool for confining chips emanating from the workpiece to the enclosure for removal via an outlet. The enclosure includes spaced-apart first and second wall portions, a top portion, a bottom portion, a first end portion comprising separate tool and workpiece openings, a second end portion and the outlet located proximate the intersection of the bottom portion and the second end portion whereby a majority of chips emanating from the workpiece are projected toward and collide with the second end portion after which the majority of chips fall to the bottom portion and/or the outlet. Alternatively and preferably, the enclosure comprises a curved inner surface and the chips are directed toward and then travel along the inner surface into an outlet.

Abstract: A method of treating a cutting edge of a tool to reduce deterioration of the cutting edge during a subsequent machining operation. A brush having a plurality of bristles is rotated about an axis of rotation and positioned relative to the cutting edge whereby the brush axis is oriented perpendicular to the cutting edge or at an angle of up to about plus/minus 20 degrees with respect to the perpendicular orientation. The brush is then brought into contact with the cutting tool in the presence of an abrasive material. Preferably the cutting tool is a cutting blade for cutting toothed articles such as gears and the like wherein the cutting edge is formed by the intersection of a front face and a cutting side profile surface of the cutting blade. The rotating brush effectively polishes a portion of the front face and cutting side profile surface which is adjacent to the cutting edge while producing the rounding-off of the cutting edge.

Abstract: A method of monitoring the condition of a tool in a machining operation for producing a plurality of toothed workpieces. The process comprises measuring the temperature of at least a portion of the plurality of workpieces each at essentially a same predetermined amount of time after machining. The temperature of each measured workpiece is compared to at least one workpiece reference temperature value indicative of a wear condition of the tool. If the measured temperature is less than or equal to the workpiece reference temperature value, machining of subsequent parts continues, or, if the measured temperature is greater than the workpiece reference temperature, the machining operation is stopped.

Abstract: A method of bringing a gear member and a pinion member into mesh with one another without causing damage to either or both members. Each of the members of the gear pair has an axis of rotation and a plurality of teeth with respective topland surfaces with at least one of the members having teeth, and thus toplands, extending lengthwise at an angle with respect to the axis of rotation of said member. The method comprises moving one member of the gear pair from a pre-mesh position relatively toward the other member of the gear pair along a meshing path which includes relative movement along (1) a sliding path oriented in the direction of the angle of the toplands and (2) along an axial path in the direction of the gear member axis whereby upon contact between any topland surfaces of the members, rotation of at least one of the members will result thus enabling the teeth to be relatively positioned so that meshing occurs.

Abstract: A method for determining front-face indexing errors of like cutting blades mounted in a face hobbing cutter head. The cutter head is rotatable about a cutter axis and the like cutting blades (e.g. inside cutting blades or outside cutting blades) each having a cutting edge and are arranged in a plurality of blade groups in the cutter head. The method comprises determining the angular position of the front face of one or more of the like cutting blades about to the cutter axis by rotating the cutting edge of one or more of the like cutting blades relative to an angular detecting means, such as a non-contacting probe. The measured front face angular positions are compared with respective theoretical front face angular positions and an angular difference, .DELTA..phi..sub.c, is calculated. A cutting blade front face index error, F.sub.d, is then calculated and this error amount may be compared to acceptable limits and the blade may be replaced of the cutter scrapped if such limits are exceeded.

Abstract: A cutter head including a cutter body portion having a first outer surface and a second outer surface located inward of the first outer surface. Both first and second outer surfaces are interrupted by a plurality of blade receiving slots which extend inward into the cutter body portion. The first and second outer surfaces are arranged such that an annular projection is formed protruding from the second outer surface and extending to the first outer surface. The annular projection is also interrupted by the plurality of cutting blade slots thus forming a plurality of individual projections. The cutter head additionally includes a clamping ring extending about the cutter body and secured to the annular projection.

Abstract: Machine comprising a main frame (1), machine bed (2), headstock (3) and tailstock (4) with means (17, 18) for mounting of the work for rotation about a work axis (C2), the means being disposed on the machine bed, with the headstock being movable in a direction (Z-axis) parallel to the work axis (C2). The machine also includes a slide system supported by the main frame (1) comprising two controlled-drive slides (7, 10), of which one (10) is displaceable in a direction (Y-axis) perpendicular to the work axis (C2), and the other (7) in a direction (X-axis) perpendicular to the Y and Z axes. Further included is a cradle (12) supported by the slide system (7, 10) and holding a tool head (13) for angular setting about an axis (A) perpendicular to the work axis (C2), the tool head being disposed between the headstock and tailstock.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the output to a drive for moving a workpiece and/or tool along a defined path in a machine tool. The drive output can be modified according to a periodic controlling variable or a periodic disturbance variable. The defined path of the workpiece is divided into equidistant subdivisions and a control deviation corresponding to each subdivision of the defined path is determined and stored. A control variable is derived from the control deviation and utilized to control the drive output.

Abstract: A method of truing cutting tools of the type comprising a plurality of stick-type cutting blades releasably secured in a cutter head, the cutting blades having a cutting edge and a cutting side relief surface oriented at a predetermined relief angle. The method comprises mounting a cutting tool to the spindle of a truing apparatus having a cutting tool spindle and a measuring probe with the probe capable of being moved along a first direction defining probe offset travel and along a second direction defining in/out feed motion of the probe. The cutting side relief surface of the cutting blade is positioned with respect to the probe whereby the cutting side relief surface is substantially parallel to the direction of probe offset travel. The cutting side surface of the cutting blade is probed and the position reading is recorded.

Abstract: A method of machining one or more tooth slots in a bevel gear-shaped workpiece with a cup-shaped tool having one or more stock removing surfaces. The method comprises indexing the workpiece by rotation about a workpiece axis to bring one of the tooth slots to a final machining position. Simultaneously with at least a portion of the indexing, positioning the tool to contact the workpiece to commence machining the slot and infeeding the tool during the indexing while moving the tool with the indexing workpiece to maintain the tool positioned in the slot. The infeeding, movement of the tool, and indexing continuing at least until the final machining position is achieved.

Abstract: Workholding apparatus for mounting a workpiece (6) on a machine tool, the apparatus comprising a diaphragm chuck portion (2) and a tailstock portion (4). The chuck (2) includes a backing ring (70) with face portion (74) attached to the diaphragm (44) with the backing ring (70) having a centering locator guide (76) for centering and stopping the axial advancement of a workpiece in the chuck (2). The chuck (2) also includes a support ring (106) including material (109) located at the periphery thereof for sealing the area between the chuck and the workpiece and dampening vibrations brought about by the machining process. The tailstock portion (4) comprises a rotatable tailstock support (112) having at least one workpiece seating surface (117). The tailstock includes a centering locator guide (114) extending axially from the tailstock support (112) and having a generally curved outer surface (115) for centering the workpiece in the chuck (2).

Abstract: A method of evaluating a toothed workpiece for machining according to a predetermined machining process. A workpiece spindle is rotated to bring selected leading and/or trailing tooth flanks each into a predetermined position relative to a probe to generate a signal indicative of the instantaneous rotational position of the spindle and the instantaneous rotational spindle positions corresponding to each generated signal are recorded. Theoretical spindle positions corresponding to each selected tooth flank are provided, and the difference between respective recorded spindle positions and the theoretical spindle positions for each selected tooth flank is calculated to yield a measured error value. The maximum and minimum measured error values for leading tooth flanks and/or trailing tooth flanks are selected and a maximum accumulated pitch variation (P.sub.V) is calculated for the leading tooth flanks and/or trailing tooth flanks. The maximum accumulated pitch variation (P.sub.

Abstract: A method for determining the suitability of workpieces for machining. A workpiece is probed with a non-contact type sensor to produce a voltage reading corresponding to the mass of the workpiece. The reading is compared to a tolerance voltage range based on the mass of a reference workpiece and from this comparison it is determined whether the workpiece is an uncut or cut workpiece and if it is appropriate to machine the workpiece.

Abstract: A method of dressing a threaded grinding wheel comprising rotating the grinding wheel and dressing tool about their respective axes and bringing the tool into contact with a point on a flank of the grinding thread. The dressing tool is traversed along the width of the grinding wheel with the dressing tool maintaining contact with the point during the traversing to remove stock material at the point on the flank along the width of the grinding wheel. The method includes controlling the amount of stock material removed by the dressing tool during the traversing at the point whereby different amounts of stock may be removed in different axial sections along the grinding wheel width at the point thus varying the grinding profile at each section at the point of contact. The tool is traversed at successive points along the grinding thread profile to produce a different grinding profile at each section of the grinding wheel. A method of grinding spur and helical gears is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of feeding a tool to a predetermined depth in a workpiece in a machining process for producing at least one tooth surface on the workpiece. The workpiece being rotatable about a work axis and the tool being rotatable about a tool axis and includes at least one stock removing surface, The method comprises rotating the tool about the tool axis and contacting the rotating tool and the workpiece. The tool is fed relative to the workpiece along a feedpath to the predetermined depth wherein at least a portion of the feedpath is defined by a feed vector comprising at least first and second feed vector components. The first and second feed vector components are positioned in a plane defined by the work axis and the direction of the tool axis with the first feed vector component being substantially in the direction of the tool axis and the second feed vector component being substantially in the direction of the face width of the workpiece.

Abstract: A front-loading rotary ring cutter for face milling or face hobbing processes wherein the cutter ring is secured to the cutter head by means which eliminate the need to remove the entire cutter assembly from the spindle of a machine tool when changing cutter rings. Preferably the cutter ring includes a radially inward extending base portion through which mounting screws may pass to engage the cutter head for securing the cutter ring to the cutter head. The cutter assembly may also include an adapter plate for attaching the rotary cutter to a machine spindle.

Abstract: An apparatus (40) for applying marking compound to the tooth surfaces of a gear or pinion member (14). The apparatus comprises a brush (42) having a central shaft (82) and a plurality of bristles (44) emanating from the shaft (82) with the brush (42) being rotatable about an axis of rotation coincident with the shaft (82). The apparatus also includes a cover plate (49) and a marking compound manifold (48) adjacent to the brush (42) comprising an inlet (92) in a first side of the manifold (48), an inner distribution chamber (94) communicating with the inlet (92), and a plurality of outlets (96) in a second side of the manifold (48) communicating with the inner chamber (94), the outlets (96) facing the bristles (44) of the brush (42). The apparatus (40) further includes means (52, 54) to move the brush (42) and manifold (48) from a first position remote from the gear or pinion (14) to a second position wherein the bristles (44) engage the tooth surfaces of the gear or pinion (14).

Abstract: A method for the precision working of the tooth flanks of gear-shaped workpieces with an abrasive internally toothed tool wherein the tool, after each workpiece or after several workpieces, is dressed in the same mounting with a dressing wheel, the tooth system of which corresponds with the one of the gear-shaped workpiece and the tooth flanks of which are covered with extremely hard grinding granules. To improve the tool geometry the dressing of the internally toothed tool is done with a one-flank or a two-flank contact between the dressing wheel and the internally toothed tool and with an electronic forced guiding of the rolling and relative movements between the dressing wheel and the internally toothed tool, and, the precision working in the free or in the torque guided two-flank engagement between the internally toothed tool and the workpiece.