Abstract: A method and tool arrangement for producing straight bevel gears and the like on a multi-axis computer controlled machine wherein a single tool is utilized in the machining process.

Abstract: A method and tool arrangement for producing straight bevel gears and the like on a multi-axis computer controlled machine wherein a single tool is utilized in the machining process.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a process for feeding a tool relative to a workpiece in a machining process such as a process for forming bevel and hypoid gears. The method comprises feeding the tool from an initial contact position with the workpiece to a full depth position in the workpiece along a feedpath at least a portion of which is defined by a feed vector having at least two feed vector components lying in an axial plane. The first feed vector component being substantially in the direction of the axis of a theoretical generating gear and the second feed vector component being substantially in a direction perpendicular to the generating gear axis. The feed vector may include a third feed vector component lying in a normal plane. With this feedpath undesirable tool shifting and workpiece spiral angle changes are significantly reduced.

Abstract: A method of dressing a threaded grinding wheel for grinding crown gears. The method comprises providing a dressing tool in the form of a pinion member with the dressing tool having the same pitch as a mating pinion member of the crown gear. Rotating the dressing tool and the grinding wheel at respective velocities whereby the dressing tool and grinding wheel may run in mesh with one another. Moving the dressing tool across the width of the grinding wheel simultaneously with the dressing tool and grinding wheel rotating in mesh, with the dressing tool moving completely along the width of the grinding wheel. The path that the dressing tool moves along being defined as an arcuate path about a point on the grinding wheel corresponding to a center point of the mating pinion.

Abstract: A process of forming the longitudinally curved teeth of bevel and hypoid gears is disclosed. A dish-shaped tool is oscillated relative to a work gear with the oscillating causing the dish-shaped tool to swing through an arc corresponding to the longitudinally curved teeth of the work gear. The inventive process comprises additional motions included in a timed relationship with the oscillating motion of the dish-shaped tool. The included motions are functions of the phase angle of the oscillating dish-shaped tool and the timed relationships are defined by a power series. The process enables improved control of contact patterns of mating gear teeth. The process may be computer numerically controlled. The process is applicable to cutting or grinding processes utilizing, respectively, dish-shaped cutting tools or dish-shaped grinding wheels.

Abstract: A computer controlled machine for forming longitudinally curved tooth bevel and hypoid gears having a minimum number of movable machine axes for setup and operation. The movable axes include three rectilinear axes (X, Y, and Z) and three rotational axes (T, W and P). The rectilinear axes are arranged in mutually orthogonal directions. Two of the rotational axes (T and W) provide for rotating tool (26, 27) and work gear (42, 43), respectively. The third rotational axis (P) provides for adjusting the relative angular orientations of tool axis (T) and work axis (W). Pivot axis (P) is positioned with respect to both tool axis (T) and work axis (W) at fixed inclination angles. A method of opeating the computer controlled machine provides for controlling the movable axis (X, Y, Z, T, W, and P) in response to setup and operating parameters of conventional bevel and hypoid gear generating machines.

Abstract: A method and machine for forming longitudinally curved tooth surfaces in bevel and hypoid gears. A dish-shaped grinding wheel 26 is rotated about its axis 76 and oscillated about a cradle axis 66 in a timed relationship with a relative reciprocation of a work gear 20 along cradle axis 66. The timed relationship is defined by a power series equation to permit a simultaneous form grinding of adjacent tooth sides of one member of a work gear pair to be appropriately mismatched with simultaneously generated adjacent tooth sides of the mating member of the gear pair. A dish-shaped grinding wheel 176 having inner and outer stock removing surfaces 178, 180 for working opposite sides of gear teeth is also used in accordance with special timed motions of the present invention to improve contact characteristics between mating gear teeth.

Abstract: A cutter head assembly and method of assembly design for use with a continuously indexing gear cutting machine is described as including slots formed through the face of said assembly of particular orientation for receiving cutting tools characterized by their front faces requiring no resharpening. The assembly is adaptive to cut a range of job requirements while preserving the front face portion of the cutting tools.