Abstract: A linear blind broaching machine (10) includes a base (22), a broaching ram assembly (24), a linear tool slide (26) supported on the base by linear antifriction bearings (90) and a support block (92) mounted between the base and the linear tool slide below a broaching ram of the broaching ram assembly to provide support to the linear tool slide during blind broaching. The linear tool slide has an elongated construction including an elongated positioning block (114) against which blind broaches are laterally positioned, and an electric servomotor (108) drives the linear tool slide (26) to provide indexing thereof between broaching movements of the broaching ram. A roller screw drive (54) driven by an electric servomotor (56) drives a broaching ram (44) supported by linear antifriction bearings 46.

Abstract: A linear blind broaching machine (10) includes a base (22), a broaching ram assembly (24), a linear tool slide (26) supported on the base by linear antifriction bearings (90) and a support block (92) mounted between the base and the linear tool slide below a broaching ram of the broaching ram assembly to provide support to the linear tool slide during blind broaching. The linear tool slide has an elongated construction including an elongated positioning block (114) against which blind broaches are laterally positioned, and an electric servomotor (108) drives the linear tool slide (26) to provide indexing thereof between broaching movements of the broaching ram. A roller screw drive (54) driven by an electric servomotor (56) drives a broaching ram (44) supported by linear antifriction bearings 46.

Abstract: A machine (10) incorporates slide assemblies (12) for adjusting the spacing between toothed forming racks (14) supported by the slide assemblies to roll form splines in a workpiece (16). Each slide assembly (12) includes a main slide (78) supported for movement on an associated base portion (30) and also includes a secondary slide (80) adjustable mounted on the main slide (78) under the control of an adjuster (76). A leading end (82) of each slide assembly (12) includes a pivotal connection (84) and a trailing end (86) thereof supports the adjuster (76) that operates in association with a fixed thrust plate (92), a movable thrust plate (94) moved by an actuator (98), and a thrust connector (96) that extends between the fixed and movable thrust plates and upon operation of the actuator pivots the secondary slide (80) about the main slide (78) in order to provide the rack spacing adjustment.

Abstract: A tool retention apparatus for retaining a cutting tool in a tool holder which has a wedged shaped securing arrangement to hold the cutting tool against a pair of precision ground supports. The securing member provides both a vertical securing force and a radial location of the cutting tool to facilitate installation and removal of the cutting tool from a machine.

Abstract: A machine (20) for rolling power transmission formations in a workpiece includes a base (22) having spaced base portions (30) and a rear connecting base portion (32) extending between the spaced base portions which project forwardly therefrom to define a workspace (34). A headstock spindle support (48) is mounted on the rear connecting base portion (32) along a rotational axis A of the machine and is moved therealong by a headstock electric servomotor (152). A tailstock spindle support (52) is mounted on the spaced base portions (30) adjacent front ends (36) thereof to cooperate with the headstock spindle support (48) in rotatably mounting the workpiece and is also movable along the rotational axis by a tailstock electric servomotor (180). A pair of movable slides (66) respectively support a pair of forming racks (68) and are respectively supported by the pair of spaced base portions (30) within the workspace (34).

Abstract: A machine (20) for rolling power transmission formations in a workpiece includes a base (20) having a pair of spaced base portions (30), headstock and tailstock spindle supports (48,52) that cooperate to mount the workpiece for rotation about a rotational axis of the machine and a pair of antifriction linear bearings (58) respectively associated with the pair of spaced base portions. Each bearing (58) includes a stationary carriage (60) and an elongated movable guideway (62). The stationary carriages (60) are respectively mounted on the pair of spaced base portions (30) with the rotational axis (A) of the machine (20) therebetween, and each stationary carriage (60) includes rolling elements that support the associated movable guideway (62) for movement along its length on the adjacent side of the supported workpiece.

Abstract: A machine (20) for rolling power transmission formations in a workpiece includes a base (20) having a lower end (24) for providing support thereof in an upwardly standing orientation. The base (22) includes a pair of spaced base portions (30) and a rear connecting base portion (32). The spaced base portions (30) project forwardly from the rear connecting base portion (32) to define a vertically extending workspace (34) and are secured to each other and to the rear connecting base portion by tie rod assemblies (38, 40, 42). Headstock and tailstock spindle supports (48,52) cooperate to rotatably mount the workpiece about a rotational axis (A) of the machine.

Abstract: A mechanical drive linkage for a blind spline broaching machine wherein a rotary motion provided by a servo driven helical ball or roller screw is converted to a linear reciprocal motion of a ram through the use of a kite link and a pivot link that as a part of their motion communicate with guide tracks in order to prevent side loads from being applied to the ball screw, its carriage, or the ram of the blind spline broaching machine.

Abstract: A tool retention apparatus for retaining a cutting tool in a tool holder which has a wedged shaped securing arrangement to hold the cutting tool against a pair of precision ground supports. The securing member provides both a vertical securing force and a radial location of the cutting tool to facilitate installation and removal of the cutting tool from a machine.

Abstract: A rotary index table assembly including an annular positioning mechanism (22) that cooperates with a lift mechanism (140) to accurately position a rotary index table (14) on a base (12). The annular positioning mechanism (22) includes a base mounted crown gear (24), a table mounted crown gear (26) and a movable crown gear (28) that is moved out of engagement with the base and table mounted crown gears to permit the indexing rotation and that is thereafter moved into engagement with the base and table mounted crown gears to locate the table with respect to the base while the lift mechanism (140) supports the table on the base by the movement of the movable crown gear (28) to permit the accurate positioning.

Abstract: Method and system are provided for controllably driving a rotary drive of a rotary index table assembly utilizing a PLC which receives various sensor signals including a feedback signal from a resolver to generate a reference central signal which, in turn, is used by a positioning drive including an electric servomotor to drive the rotary drive. The positioning drive includes a servoamplifier and a microprocessor for generating commands for controlling the servoamplifier in response to the reference central signal. The PLC also controls a hydraulic control unit which controls the axial position of the index table relative to a base of the assembly.

Abstract: A shell-type internal broach assembly including a number of annular insert mounting shells interleaved with a number of annular spacers, and mounted on an arbor. The annular insert mounting shells are sufficiently short so as to permit the use of travelling-wire EDM manufacturing methods. As a result, inserts can be precisely and accurately located and secured to the annular insert mounting shells, thereby presenting a highly repeatable broaching configuration to a workpiece. The precision by which the annular insert mounting shells are formed also promotes concentricity of the annular insert mounting shells, which further promotes the accurate and precise placement of the inserts relative to the longitudinal axis of the arbor.

Abstract: A blind spline broaching machine for machining splines as well as sprockets, keyways, gears, cams and contours on workpieces, such as shafts. The blind spline broaching machine of the preferred embodiment has dual rams reciprocable relative to a rotary dial. The rams hold a corresponding pair of workpieces, while the rotary dial supports one or more broaching tools. The rotary dial is rotatable to index the workpieces to and from the rams. The blind spline broaching machine also incorporates a part moving unit on its periphery, which enables the use of a single loading/unloading station at which workpieces are alternately loaded onto and unloaded from the rotary table. Because the workpieces are loaded and unloaded from the same location on the periphery of the blind spline broaching machine, the side of the blind spline broaching machine opposite the loading/unloading station remains open to permit ready access to the tooling and the interior structure of the blind spline broaching machine.

Abstract: A pot type broach assembly having a plurality of tool holders serially connected to each other. Each tool holder has a plurality of sub-holder slots and a plurality of pilot slots equally spaced about an inner surface. The sub-holder slots and pilot slots are longitudinally aligned. A sub-holder member is attached in each longitudinally aligned sub-holder slot and a pilot member is attached in each longitudinally aligned pilot slot. Each sub-holder member has a pair of longitudinal side mounting faces and at least one broach member is attached to each side mounting face. The pilot member engages the broach members on either side thereof and prohibits lateral displacement of the sub-holders and the attached broach member. The pilot members also guide the part support member to which the part to be machined is attached as it is displaced through the broach assembly.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for progressive machining of blind spline workpieces which includes step-by-step moving of work holding stations on an indexing table with loading and unloading stations located adjacent the table between work stations. Axially in line with the work stations between indexes are multiple tool rams hydraulically powered to drive a broaching tool over or into workpieces to achieve progressive broaching as the work is indexed. The rams can be simultaneously activated or sequentially activated depending on the capacity of the hydraulic system.

Abstract: A flywheel starter gear construction which includes a strip of gear stock surrounding a flywheel disc and friction welded to the disc in an annular weld area, the gear teeth on the gear stock being formed by moving the assembly through a pot broach, and the method of forming the flywheel starter gear by selecting a measured length of gear stock, forming it into a circle and friction welding the circular gear stock to the periphery of a flywheel disc, then moving the welded parts through a pot broach to form the gear teeth to serve as a starter gear.

Abstract: A form broaching assembly made up of a base block with an elongate recess to receive the root end of a series of broaching teeth, a plurality of hold-down blocks interengaged with the teeth, and wedge blocks acting on the hold-down blocks to insure an accurate alignment of the broaching teeth. The individual teeth may be manufactured with a true form relief as distinguished from a one-piece tool where this relief cannot be readily and successfully achieved.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cutting metal from the end of a part partway down the length of the part, especially tooth forms or splines, exterior or interior, by a broaching method, which comprises subjecting the part to a series of cuts, originating at the end of the part and each terminating a predetermined distance less from the end than the preceding cut, to cause the chips from said cut to stack up axially at the end of the cut, and shearing the accumulated chips from the part to provide a finished part.