Method for finish machining of a bevel gear in a region of a tooth head, machine for machining bevel gears, and grinding tool for use in association therewith

A machine for machining bevel gears, the machine comprising:

• (a) a workpiece spindle which can be driven to rotate about a workpiece axis of rotation, wherein the workpiece spindle is configured to accommodate a bevel gear,
• (b) at least one tool spindle which can be driven to rotate about a tool axis of rotation, wherein the tool spindle is configured to accommodate a grinding tool, and
• (c) an NC controller programmed to execute the following method:
• (A) fastening a bevel gear on the workpiece spindle of the machine, the bevel gear having a tooth, the tooth having a tooth head, a tooth flank and a tooth width,
• (B) rotationally driving the bevel gear about a workpiece axis of rotation of the workpiece spindle,
• (C) machining the bevel gear using a first machining tool located on a tool spindle of the machine,
• (D) driving a grinding tool located on the tool spindle or on a further tool spindle of the machine to rotate about a tool axis of rotation of the tool spindle, wherein the grinding tool comprises a concave machining region that has a ring shape and is arranged concentrically in relation to the tool axis of rotation, and
• (E) advancing the grinding tool in relation to the bevel gear in order to bring the concave machining region of the grinding tool into chip-removing operational connection with an edge in a region of the tooth head, wherein the edge extends along the tooth width and defines a transition between the tooth flank and the tooth head, to produce a head chamfer on the edge by machine grinding.

An apparatus comprising:

• a grinding tool configured for machine grinding bevel gears in a region of a tooth head thereof, wherein the grinding tool
• (a) is rotationally-symmetrical in relation to a tool axis of rotation,
• (b) comprises a machining region, which
• is arranged concentrically in relation to the tool axis of rotation,
• is concave in an axial section of the grinding tool,
• has a ring shape, and which
• results from two ring-shaped areas which intersect one another in a circle which is concentric to the tool axis of rotation, wherein at least one of the two ring-shaped areas is a working area and is provided with an abrasive material.