Abstract: A method is provided for the production of near net ring gear forgings (106) including the steps of forging ring roll preforms (102) of substantially toroidal shape, ring rolling the preforms into forging blank rings (104) having a general rectangular shaped wall thickness and then precision forging said rings into near net ring gear forgings.

Abstract: A method for providing ring gears (14) for (12/14) is provided. The method comprises providing a near net ring gear forging (106) which is machined on other than the root and flank tooth surfaces (90), subjected to a carburizing heat treatment (92) and then subjected to a grinding operation, preferably utilizing cubic boron nitride grinding tools, to finish machine the tooth flank and root surfaces to the final configurations thereof (94).

Abstract: A method for precision forging of low to medium carbon level carbon and/or alloy steels is provided. The method include the steps of heating the properly prepared billets (20), preferably in a minimum oxidizing environment (36), to a preselected temperature falling in the range of 0.68-0.74, preferably 0.69-0.73, of the homologous temperature ratio (HTR) of the billet material and then precision forging the heated billets while at the preselected temperature.

Abstract: A method of monitoring the performance of a cutting tool which moves relative to a workpiece through a cycle includes the steps of dividing the cycle into a plurality of increments, sensing a function of force applied to the tool during the increments, mathematically smoothing the function of force sensed during the increments, and establishing a trend in the mathematically smoothed function of force for the plurality of increments. The mathematically smoothed function of force is compared with the established trend and if the mathematically smoothed function of force deviates substantially from the established trend a first signal is generated.