Gear Production
Issue link: http://gear.epubxp.com/i/155418
F E AT U R E The maneuverability of a fve-axis multitasking machine enables the tool path, not the cutter, to generate the desired gear profle. Changing the Landscape of Gear Production The convergence of innovative cutter designs, fve-axis multitasking machines and capable software is revolutionizing small- and mediumbatch gear production. nvoMilling is the name of a proprietary gear milling process developed by cutting tool manufacturer Sandvik Coromant with the cooperation of machine tool builder DMG/ Mori Seiki. This process enables a fve-axis multitasking machine to produce gear-tooth geometry with off-the-shelf tooling. By virtue of new programming software, the tool path, not the shape of the cutter, determines the gear profle. Because a tool path can be reprogrammed quickly, the same cutter can produce an unlimited number of gear profles within a certain, but rather wide, range. No additional cost or added time to change from one profle to another is involved. This capability makes the fve-axis multitasking machine the ultimate in fexible gear cutting I technology. This is a huge beneft to two classes of potential users. Shops that specialize in gear production can extend their services to customers requiring small batches of high-quality gears, or even single prototypes, at a very attractive price. Likewise, general machining companies and job shops can add enhanced gear cutting to their range of machining operations, expanding the types of parts and part features they can handle. This development changes the landscape for gear making. Shops that never made gears now have a clear path of entry into this business. Shops that have always made gears now have a clear path to grow this business by doing more for existing customers while attracting new customers with additional offerings. September 2013—17