Cutter head adjustment device

A combination of a cutter head and a device for adjusting blades therein, comprising:

• a plurality of blades, each blade having a shaft, a tip cutting edge and at least one profile cutting edge;
• a cutter head comprising of a disk-shaped tool body with an axis of rotation, two parallel end faces, and a plurality of chambers which are located around the periphery and into which a respectively assigned blade with its shaft is pushed and releasably fixed;
• a frame;
• a numerically controlled turntable provided on the frame for coaxially supporting the cutter head;
• a stable arm attached to the frame, the stable arm being movable at least axially and radially to the cutter head supported on the turntable and being numerically controlled and having, on its front end, a push head with which each blade can be pushed automatically into its chamber down to a stipulated height;
• at least one measuring device for continuously measuring positions of the push head relative to the frame;
• a probe connected to the stable arm, the probe having at least one deflectable feeler which can be deflected perpendicular to one end face of the cutter head, the deflectable feeler having a sensing surface located in an immediate vicinity of the push head, the probe measuring before, during and shortly after a blade is pushed in, positions of the tip cutting edge relative to the push head;
• and
• an evaluation means for evaluating the measured values of the measuring device and the probe to determine the attained height of the tip cutting edge of each cutter relative to an end face of the disk-shaped tool body.

A method for adjusting blades in a cutter head which is used for cutting of spiral bevel gears, each blade having a shaft, a tip cutting edge and at least one profile cutting edge;

• and the cutter head comprising a disk-shaped tool body with an axis of rotation, two parallel end faces, and a plurality of chambers which are located around the periphery and into which a respectively assigned blade with its shaft is pushed and releasably fixed, the method comprising:
• moving a stable arm at least axially and radially to the cutter head under numerical control, the stable arm being attached to a frame and having, on its front end, a push head;
• pushing each blade with the push head into its chamber down to a stipulated height;
• continuously measuring positions of the push head relative to the frame;
• measuring before, during and shortly after a blade is pushed in, positions of the tip cutting edge relative to the push head with a probe connected to the stable arm, the probe having at least one deflectable feeler which can be deflected perpendicular to one end face of the cutter head, the deflectable feeler having a sensing surface located in an immediate vicinity of the push head for measuring positions of the tip cutting edge relative to the push head;
• and
• evaluating the measured values of the positions of the push head relative to the frame and of the probe to determine the height of the tip cutting edge of each blade relative to an end face of the disk-shaped tool body.