GMTA

Cutting Tools

Hobbing Tools

Hobbing is a machining process used for making gears, splines, and sprockets. It involves using a hob—a cutting tool with helical teeth. The hob rotates and advances into the workpiece, cutting the desired shape into it. Hobbing tools can be used for various profiles and can be designed for pre-hobbing, power skiving, or finishing applications. Hobs are available in different sizes and materials, such as carbide, to suit different manufacturing requirements.

POWER Skiving Tools

Power skiving, is a process that combines aspects of hobbing and shaping to cut gears more quickly and with high precision. It is suitable for both internal and external gears and can achieve faster production times compared to traditional shaping methods. Power skiving tools are available in different types, including disk type, boss type, and shank type. They can produce straight and helical gears and are typically made from high-performance materials like powder metal steels and solid carbide.

Broaching Tools

Broaching tools are specialized cutting instruments used in the broaching process, a machining method for creating precise shapes and holes in metal parts. These tools consist of a series of progressively larger teeth arranged on a single tool, which remove material in a linear motion. There are two main types of broaching: linear and rotary. In linear broaching, the broach moves linearly over the workpiece, while in rotary broaching, the broach rotates and presses into the workpiece to cut shapes like splines, keyways, and holes. Broaching tools are typically made from high-speed steel or carbide for durability and accuracy. This process is highly efficient and capable of producing complex and precise geometries in a single pass, making it ideal for high-volume manufacturing applications.

Workholding

Fixtures in the Gear Cutting Industry

Fixtures in the gear cutting industry are essential devices used to securely hold, support, and locate gear blanks and workpieces during the machining process. They ensure precision and repeatability in gear manufacturing by maintaining the correct alignment and positioning of the workpiece relative to the cutting tool. Common types of fixtures include arbors for holding the gear blank, mandrels for internal gear cutting, and chucks for clamping workpieces in lathes and milling machines. Indexing fixtures are used to rotate the gear blank to precise angles for sequential cutting of gear teeth. Additionally, workholding fixtures like vices and clamps stabilize the workpiece to prevent movement during machining, ensuring high-quality and accurate gear production. These fixtures are crucial for achieving the intricate geometries and tight tolerances required in gear manufacturing.