Stamping press forming of outer diameter helical splines

A press assembly for defining external helical threads on a gear blank, the press assembly comprising:

• a lower die shoe assembly configured to receive the gear blank having an unfinished condition, the lower die shoe assembly including a lower stationary portion and a lower rotatable portion rotatable relative to the lower stationary portion;
• an upper punch shoe assembly configured to move relative toward the lower die shoe assembly, the upper punch shoe assembly including an upper stationary portion and an upper rotatable portion rotatable relative to the lower stationary portion, wherein the upper punch shoe assembly is configured to engage the gear blank and shape the gear blank in combination with the lower die assembly;
• wherein the upper rotatable portion and lower rotatable portion are configured to engage each other in fixed relation for conjoint rotation;
• and
• wherein the upper rotatable portion and lower rotatable portion are moveable downward relative to the upper and lower stationary portions, wherein the relative downward movement causes the conjoint rotation;
• wherein the upper stationary portion includes a helical driver having first internal threads, and the upper rotatable portion includes a helical driven pressing plate having first external threads, wherein the first internal and first external threads engage to define an upper helical mesh;
• wherein the lower stationary portion includes a helical spline forming die having second internal threads, and the lower rotatable portion includes a helical lower pad having second external threads, wherein the second internal and second external threads engage to define a lower helical mesh;
• and
• wherein the upper and lower helical mesh have the same angle.

A press assembly for defining external helical threads on a gear blank, the press assembly comprising:

• a lower die shoe assembly configured to receive the gear blank having an unfinished condition, the lower die shoe assembly including a lower stationary portion and a lower rotatable portion rotatable relative to the lower stationary portion;
• an upper punch shoe assembly configured to move relative toward the lower die shoe assembly, the upper punch shoe assembly including an upper stationary portion and an upper rotatable portion rotatable relative to the lower stationary portion, wherein the upper punch shoe assembly is configured to engage the gear blank and shape the gear blank in combination with the lower die assembly;
• wherein the upper rotatable portion and lower rotatable portion are configured to engage each other in fixed relation for conjoint rotation;
• and
• wherein the upper rotatable portion and lower rotatable portion are moveable downward relative to the upper and lower stationary portions, wherein the relative downward movement causes the conjoint rotation;
• wherein the upper rotatable portion includes at least one drive pin extending therefrom, wherein the lower rotatable portion includes at least one drive pin bore corresponding to the at least one drive pin, wherein the drive pin bore receives the drive pin in response to downward movement of the upper rotatable portion to fix the upper and lower rotatable portion for conjoint rotation.