Method for machining gear wheel workpieces

A method A method comprising the steps of:

• 1) computer-assisted analysis of simulated production of chips during simulated machining of a gear wheel workpiece in a machine using a cutting tool comprising at least two geometrically-defined cutting edges configured to produce material in chip form from the gear wheel workpiece during said simulated machining, wherein the simulated machining is defined by machining parameters;
• 2) computer-assisted prediction of forces on the cutting edges of the cutting tool during the simulated production of chips, and computer-assisted chip analysis using at least one of:
• a mechanistic model modeling formation of at least one of shear planes and shear zones;
• a model assuming a linear relationship between chip thickness and corresponding force required to achieve chip-producing machining;
• a potential model;
• an exponential model;
• 3) modifying at least one of the machining parameters such that the predicted forces do not exceed a predetermined value or are not within a defined range;
• and
• 4) chip-producing machining of the gear wheel workpiece using said cutting tool and said modified machining parameters.