Gear Production
Issue link: http://gear.epubxp.com/i/556595
6—GEAR Production Supplement F E A T U R E increase its capabilities by embracing the latest technologies. Mr. Ooyen and his team began a careful examination of the top grinding machine OEMs, looking at equipment specifcations as well as the level of customer service, technical support and on-site training each would provide. In the end, Liebherr was named the vendor of choice, and Global Gear purchased the frst of two LCS 300 generating and profle grinding machines and recently added an LGG 180. It eventually invested in three hobbing machines from the same OEM—two LC 180s and an LC 300 that is on order—as well as three LSE 380 shaping machines. This bolstered the company's range and capabilities in existing competencies such as hobbing and added new ones like gear shaping and gear tooth grinding. A particularly valuable part of this exercise was having the opportunity to contrast and compare the current state of gear manufacturing technology. With new processes being introduced—think scudding, and power skiving— and more familiar methods constantly being improved, there was a consensus within the Global Gear team that grinding technology had in many ways outpaced other machining techniques in the gearing arena. More powerful machines, shorter cycle times and especially improved abrasives for maximum material removal were important, as was the excellent surface fnish, reduced noise and vibration, effcient power transfer and tight tolerances that grinding provides. "In fact, we've gone from grinding zero gears in 2006 to about 70 percent ground gears today," Mr. Ooyen says. Still, other factors were considered, such as the fact that some machining processes simply can't be performed on a grinder, like cutting internal teeth on gears of a certain size. Also, since Global Gear works directly from its customers' plans, the required tolerances plus the AGMA class partially dictate what type of machining A Liebherr LCS 180 can hob gears and shafts up to 30 mm in diameter and 150 mm in depth, and up to AGMA 8 quality standards. An assortment of gears and related components manufactured by Global Gear for its customers throughout North America and Europe.