Near zero degrees cross-axis angle gear cutter and method of gear cutting using such a tool

Abstract

A gear cutter tool for cutting internal gear teeth into a workpiece to form a gear is provided. The gear cutter tool is configured to rotate about a longitudinal gear cutter rotational axis. The workpiece is configured to rotate about a workpiece rotational axis. The gear cutter tool includes a gear cutter having a plurality of cutting teeth. Each cutting tooth of the plurality of cutting teeth having a tooth face that defines a cross-axis tooth angle defined between the tooth face and a line transverse to the longitudinal gear cutter rotational axis. The cross-axis tooth angle is between one and fifteen degrees. A cross-axis tool angle of the gear cutter tool defined between the longitudinal gear cutter rotational axis and the workpiece rotational axis is substantially near zero degrees.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.