Method and apparatus for lapping gears

A lapping machine for gears, said machine comprising:

• a machine frame having a first side oriented perpendicular to a second side;
• said first side having a first workpiece spindle rotatable about a first axis, said first workpiece spindle being movably secured to said first side, said first workpiece spindle being rotatable by a direct drive motor;
• said second side having a second workpiece spindle rotatable about a second axis, said second workpiece spindle being movably secured to said second side, said second workpiece spindle being rotatable by a direct drive motor;
• said first and second workpiece spindles being movable with respect to one another along one or more of mutually perpendicular directions G, H and V,
• means to introduce a lapping compound to a rotating and meshing gear set during a lapping process;
• wherein said first and second axes cross to define a crossing point, said crossing point remaining the same regardless of the relative position of said first and second spindles along one or more of said directions G, H and V.

A method of lapping mating members of a gear set, said method comprising:

• providing a machine having a single machine column with said column having a first side oriented perpendicular to a second side, said first side having a first workpiece spindle rotatable about a first axis with said first workpiece spindle being movably secured to said first side, said second side having a second workpiece spindle rotatable about a second axis with said second workpiece spindle being movably secured to said second side, said first and second workpiece spindles being movable with respect to one another along one or more of mutually perpendicular directions G, H and V;
• mounting a first member of said gear set to said first spindle;
• mounting a second member of said gear set to said second spindle;
• bringing said first and second member into mesh and rotating said members in mesh;
• applying a lapping compound to said rotating members;
• adjusting the relative position of said members while rotating in mesh to move tooth contact bearing to different locations along the tooth surfaces of said members, said adjusting taking place in one or more of said directions G, H and V;
• whereby said first and second axes cross to define a crossing point, and during said adjusting said crossing point remaining the same regardless of the relative position of said members along one or more of said directions G, H and V.