Tool feeding method in gear manufacturing processes

A method of feeding a tool relative to a work gear in a process for forming spiral bevel and hypoid gears with a computer controlled machine, said computer controlled machine comprising a plurality of computer controlled axes for positioning and operatively engaging said tool with said work gear, said tool being arranged for rotation about a tool axis and said work gear being arranged for rotation about a work axis, said work gear being in mesh with a theoretical generating gear rotatable about a generating gear axis, said method comprising the steps of:

• computing initial setup positions in response to setup parameters input to said machine,
• moving said computer controlled axes to initial setup positions for initially positioning said tool and work gear with respect to each other,
• computing a feedpath of said tool relative to said work gear in response to feed parameters input to said machine,
• rotating said tool about said tool axis,
• moving said computer controlled axes to feed said rotating tool relative to said work gear along said feedpath to a predetermined depth in said work gear, at least a portion of said feedpath being defined by a feed vector,
• wherein said feed vector comprises at least first and second feed vector components, said feed vector components being positioned in an axial plane defined by said generating gear axis and said work axis, said first feed vector component being substantially in the direction of said generating gear axis and said second feed vector component being substantially perpendicular to said generating gear axis.

A method of feeding a tool to a predetermined depth in a work gear in a face hobbing process for producing bevel and hypoid gears, said tool being rotatable about a tool axis and having a plurality of stock removing surfaces, said work gear being rotatable about a work axis and being in mesh with a theoretical generating gear, said theoretical generating gear being rotatable about a generating gear axis, said method comprising:

• rotating said tool about said tool axis,
• rotating said work gear about said work axis, said tool and work gear rotating in a timed relationship,
• contacting said rotating tool and said rotating workpiece,
• feeding said tool relative to said workpiece along a feedpath to said predetermined depth,
• wherein at least a portion of said feedpath is defined by a feed vector comprising at least first and second feed vector components, said feed vector components being positioned in an axial plane defined by said generating gear axis and said work axis, said first feed vector component being substantially in the direction of said generating gear axis and said second feed vector component being substantially perpendicular to said generating gear axis.