Apparatus and method for precision grinding face gear

A method of precision grinding a plurality of face gear teeth on a face gear, comprising the following steps:

• shaping a plurality of face gear teeth on the face gear;
• hardening the face gear;
• providing a grinding worm;
• placing the grinding worm into contact with the face gear to thereby precision grind the plurality of face gear teeth;
• providing a dressing tool;
• and
• placing the dressing tool into contact with the grinding worm to thereby true the grinding worm.

A precision grinding apparatus, comprising:

• a case-hardened face gear;
• a grinding worm disposed in a normal orientation to the case-hardened face gear, the grinding worm having a spiral tooth extending along a perimeter of the grinding worm, the spiral tooth contacting and precision grinding the case-hardened face gear;
• the grinding worm moving radially along the face gear as the spiral tooth contacts and precision grinds the face gear;
• and
• a dressing tool for dressing the grinding worm while the grinding worm is grinding the case-hardened face gear, the dressing tool having a protrusion for contacting the spiral tooth of the grinding worm.

A method of precision grinding a plurality of face gear teeth on a face gear, comprising the following steps:

• providing a grinding worm;
• placing the grinding worm into contact with the face gear to thereby precision grind the plurality of face gear teeth;
• moving the grinding worm radially along the face gear, to ensure that an entire radial length of each face gear tooth is precision ground;
• providing a dressing tool;
• and
• placing the dressing tool into contact with the grinding worm to thereby true the grinding worm.

A precision grinding apparatus, comprising:

• a case-hardened face gear which is adapted to mesh with a spur pinion, the spur pinion having teeth and internal sectors located between the teeth;
• a grinding worm disposed in a normal orientation to the case-hardened face gear, the grinding worm having a spiral tooth extending along a perimeter of the grinding worm, the spiral tooth adapted to contact and precision grind the case-hardened face gear;
• and
• a dressing tool adapted for dressing the grinding worm, the dressing tool having a protrusion for contacting the spiral tooth of the grinding worm, wherein the dressing tool protrusion is formed from an internal sector of the spur pinion.