Gear cutter

Gear cutting comprising

• a bedplate,
• a first block mounted on said bedplate,
• means for carrying a tool, the tool carrying means being mounted on the first block,
• a second block mounted on said bedplate,
• means for carrying in an axis of rotation a piece to be cut, the piece carrying means being mounted on the second block,
• a device for detecting variations, due to the thermal expansion of the bedplate, in the distance said two blocks are apart,
• drive means interlocked to said detection device and connected to at least one of said blocks in order to compensate continuously for said spacing variation,
• said blocks being positioned on the bedplate along the longitudinal axis thereof,
• one of said blocks being mounted in a way whereby it is able to slide, in the direction of said axis, on said bedplate,
• the other block being integral with said bedplate,
• said detection device comprising
• a reference element and
• reading means for reading said reference element,
• said reference element being integral with one, and said reading means with the other, of said sliding block and bedplate, whereby said reference element and reading means are movable with respect to each other as a result of thermal expansion of said bedplate.