Rotary forming machine and tool

Abstract

A rotary forming machine and a rotary tool utilized therewith for performing a forming operation on a workpiece. A work spindle rotatably mounts the workpiece about a first axis and a pair of tool spindles which each support a plurality of the tools are rotatably mounted about spaced second axes on opposite sides of the first axis. Each tool has a partially circular forming face extending about the associated tool spindle axis for an angle less than 180 degrees with forming projections that engage the workpiece. Associated pairs of the tools on the two tool spindles cooperate with each other to simultaneously form the workpiece in an opposed relationship to each other. Each tool includes a metallic body with a leading end and a trailing end between which its forming face extends as do base and side wall surfaces. The rotary tools preferably have elongated shapes with maximum heights that are approximately 25 percent of their length. The tool spindles are mounted for movement toward and away from each other to permit the forming of workpieces of different sizes, while a pair of tension members prevent movement of the tool spindles away from each other. The forming projections on the rotary tool are disclosed as teeth for providing a splining or gear forming operation. During forming of a workpiece, a double enveloping worm gear drive train for the tool spindles, a timing gear drive for the work spindle, and a drive control cooperate to provide precise forming.