The Gleason Works

William D McGlasson

Hermann J Stadtfeld

Kenneth E Glasow

Anthony J Norselli

David A Wright

Kevin H Blakely

David E Lawson

Uwe Gaiser

Craig R Ronald

James J Gnadt

Daniel D Wood

Michael W Roberts

Mark T Strang

Bryan L Patterson

Kent D Yunker

Andrew J Hesford

Daniel J Schwab

Matthew J McNall

A gear roll-testing method directed to the analysis and display of gear-set performance data, including motion transmission error, as acquired on gear-set rolling testers or gear-box test fixtures and includes the analysis and visualization of this data in the time-domain, frequency domain, and hybrids thereof. The invention further includes fundamental improvements in core signal processing, analytical and signal processing sequences that allow the data to be explored in more insightful ways, methods of visualizing and reporting the data and results, and a man-machine user-interface paradigm to provide these functions and features with greater flexibility and utility.

Analytic system and method for testing gears

A method wherein a first workpiece () is loaded to a spindle () of a workpiece processing machine with the first toothed workpiece having a predetermined design and being in a predetermined rotational load position. The first toothed workpiece is stock-divided and a machining position is determined based on the stock-dividing. The first toothed workpiece is rotationally adjusted to the machining position. The teeth () of the first toothed workpiece are then machined and the first workpiece is removed from the spindle. A second toothed workpiece is loaded to the spindle of the workpiece processing machine. The second toothed workpiece has the same predetermined design and is in the same predetermined rotational load position as the first toothed workpiece. The second toothed workpiece is rotationally adjusted from the predetermined rotational load position to the machining position by the same adjustment amount as the first toothed workpiece. The second toothed workpiece is machined and then removed from the machine spindle. The process as performed for the second toothed workpiece can be repeated for subsequent workpieces having the same design and being in the same rotational load position as the first and second workpieces. For the second and subsequent toothed workpieces, the step of determining the rotary position of the teeth is not carried out.

Method and apparatus for loading and positioning a workpiece on a gear manufacturing machine

Method and apparatus for lapping gears which includes an active torque system to substantially improve the lapping process with respect to run-out and other longer-term motion transmission errors without compromising tooth-to-tooth performance. Motion transmission error measurements provide the basis for calculating a corrective active torque component which is combined with conventional process torque to reduce or eliminate part run-out.

Active torque method of lapping gears

A contacting or non-contacting probe () is mounted to a spindle (), preferably a tool spindle, of a machining device, such as a chamfering device (), whereby it has a home position retracted out of the way of the machining (e.g. chamfering) process and an active position where it can contact a workpiece before or after the machining (e.g. chamfering) process.

Probe mechanism for machine tool

A machine tool comprising a machine base having a first side comprising a first planar surface and a machine column movable along an arcuate path on the first planar surface. The machine further comprises a first spindle movable in a first linear direction and being rotatable about a first axis of rotation. The machine further comprises a machine turret located on a second planar surface of the machine base first side. The machine turret is angularly movable about a pivot axis. The machine turret includes a second spindle positioned within the turret with the second spindle being rotatable about a second axis of rotation and being movable in a second linear direction.

Gear processing machine

A spindle for a machine tool comprising a outer spindle portion and an inner spindle portion with each of the outer spindle portion and the inner spindle portion being rotatable relative to one another about the same axis. The outer spindle portion and the inner spindle portion each include a plurality of magnets that are arranged in an opposing manner with respect to one another whereby rotation of one portion of the spindle will induce rotation in the other portion of the spindle due to the attraction force between the magnets.

Magnetic spindle for machine tool

A quick-adjust draw rod positioning nut which is attachable to a machine's chuck and/or de-chuck prime mover via a base portion. The positioning nut includes an engagement portion preferably comprising at least two segments that can be held in a collapsed position, where the segments threadably engage a draw rod, or an expanded position, where the segments are out of engagement with the draw rod, depending on the presence or positioning of a ring. In the collapsed position, the engagement portion can be disengaged from the base to permit rotation of the engagement portion and thereby effecting axial movement of the draw rod in order to achieve proper axial positioning of the draw rod in the machine. The engagement portion can be locked in one of a plurality of incrementally spaced rotational positions to adjust the axial position of the draw rod to a desired position.

Quick-adjust draw rod positioning nut

A machine for processing gears, such as by testing and lapping, which can accommodate a wide range of gear pair shaft angles (less than, equal to, and greater than ninety degrees) while providing improved machine stiffness and an enhanced arrangement of machine elements.

Gear testing and lapping machine

A system to replace or augment the common manual cone-gage method with a method that is highly automated on a CNC machine. Two cone-gage fixtures are employed, getting clamped into the gear and pinion workholding fixtures, respectively. But instead of mechanical contact, dial indicators, or other methods, a precision electronic touch probe is employed that, together with the CNC motion-controlled machine axes, can be used to measure and position gage fixture surfaces.

Method of gaging on gear lapping and testing machines

A spindle ( ) for a machine tool comprising a rear spindle portion ( ) and a forward spindle portion ( ) with each of the rear spindle portion and the forward spindle portion being rotatable about the same axis relative to one another. The inventive spindle includes one or more spring elements ( ) extending between the rear spindle portion and the forward spindle portion whereby with the forward spindle portion and the rear spindle portion rotating at a predetermined amount and with the rotation of the forward spindle portion being constrained at that amount, an additional rotation applied to the rear spindle portion results in a deflection of the springs thereby effecting a torque between the forward and the rear spindle portions. The present invention also includes a control method which has as its objective to control the position of, not the torque applied to, one of the spindles, usually the gear member spindle. In this method, the gear member spindle position is controlled relative to the pinion member spindle position by a computer numerical control (CNC). As the pinion member is turned at some speed, the gear member is kept in coordination with the pinion (according to their ratio) by the CNC control. The gear member spindle can be commanded to include additional rotational components which, in effect, advance or retard the gear rotation relative to the pinion.

Spindle for machine tool

A machine (,) for lapping or testing gears comprising a single machine column (,) having a first side (,) oriented perpendicular to a second side (,) with the first side having a first workpiece spindle (,) rotatable about a first axis and the second side having a second workpiece spindle (,) rotatable about a second axis. The first workpiece spindle is movably secured to the first side and the second workpiece spindle is movably secured to the second side. The first and second workpiece spindles are movable with respect to one another along one or more of mutually perpendicular directions G, H and V. At least one, and preferably both, of the spindles are direct drive spindles. At any relative position of the spindles and their associated gear members (,) along the G, H and V directions, the crossing points of their respective axes remains the same. For lapping, the machine further includes means (,) to introduce lapping compound at the toe end of one of the members rotating in mesh at a location before the point of mesh. The inventive method provides for a smooth transition between points on the tooth surface thus avoiding the formation of a stepped tooth surface. A linear transition, or second order or higher order function transition, between points on the tooth surface eliminates the formation of the stepped tooth surface.

Method of lapping gears

A machine for lapping or testing gears comprising a single machine column having a first side oriented perpendicular to a second side with the first side having a first workpiece spindle rotatable about a first axis and the second spindle having a second workpiece spindle rotatable about a second axis. The first workpiece spindle is movably secured to the first side and the second workpiece spindle is movably secured to the second side. The first and second workpiece spindles are movable with respect to one another along one or more of mutually perpendicular directions G, H and V. At least one, and preferably both, of the spindles are direct drive spindles. At any relative position of the spindles and their associated gear members along the G, H and V directions, the crossing points of their respective axes remains the same. For lapping, the machine further includes means to introduce lapping compound at the toe end of one of the members rotating in mesh at a location before the point of mesh.

Method and apparatus for lapping gears

A method of machining one or more tooth slots in a bevel gear-shaped workpiece with a cup-shaped tool having one or more stock removing surfaces. The method comprises indexing the workpiece by rotation about a workpiece axis to bring one of the tooth slots to a final machining position. Simultaneously with at least a portion of the indexing, positioning the tool to contact the workpiece to commence machining the slot and infeeding the tool during the indexing while moving the tool with the indexing workpiece to maintain the tool positioned in the slot. The infeeding, movement of the tool, and indexing continuing at least until the final machining position is achieved.

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Caledonia, NY, United States of America

William D McGlasson