Generative Gear Machining Method and Apparatus
AssigneeDmg Mori Seiki Advanced Solutions, Inc.
InventorsGregory A. Hyatt, Nitin Chaphalkar
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Gear machining apparatus and methods are configured to produce gaps between gear teeth having portions formed by two different machining processes. A rough cutting process may be used to form a root portion of the gap, while a finish cutting process may be used to form final tooth faces. The apparatus and methods may further be configured to machine one or more gear tooth profile modifications.
Claims16
A method of machining a gear from a workpiece, the gear having a series of gear teeth separated by intervening gaps, the method comprising:
- securing the workpiece in a workpiece retainer, the workpiece having a work surface;
- providing a rough cutting tool in a rough tool retainer, the rough cutting tool including a series of cutting teeth;
- controlling one or more of the workpiece retainer and the rough tool retainer such that the cutting teeth engage the work surface to machine a series of initial gaps in the workpiece, each initial gap having an initial gap profile defined by the cutting teeth and including a gap root portion and an adjacent pair of initial tooth faces;
- providing a finish cutting tool having a finish cutting surface in a finish tool retainer;
- and
- controlling one or more of the workpiece retainer and the finish tool retainer such that the finish cutting surface machines each initial tooth face into a final tooth face, so that each intervening gap comprises a gap root portion disposed between an adjacent pair of final tooth faces.
An apparatus for machining a gear from a workpiece, the gear having a series of gear teeth separated by intervening gaps, the apparatus comprising:
- a workpiece retainer configured to movably support the workpiece, the workpiece having a work surface;
- a rough tool retainer configured to be movable relative to the workpiece retainer;
- a rough cutting tool coupled to the rough tool retainer, the rough cutting tool including a series of cutting teeth;
- a finish tool retainer configured to be movable relative to the workpiece retainer;
- a finish cutting tool coupled to the finish tool retainer;
- and
- a computer control system including a computer readable medium having computer executable code disposed thereon and being in operative communication with each of the workpiece retainer, the rough tool retainer, and the finish tool retainer, the executable code configuring the control system to:
- control one or more of the workpiece retainer and the rough tool retainer such that the cutting teeth engage the work surface to machine a series of initial gaps in the workpiece, each initial gap having an initial gap profile defined by the cutting teeth and including a gap root portion and an adjacent pair of initial tooth faces;
- and
- control one or more of the workpiece retainer and the finish tool retainer such that the finish cutting surface machines each initial tooth face into a final tooth face, so that each intervening gap comprises a gap root portion disposed between an adjacent pair of final tooth faces.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.