Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: Len-Tikular on October 26, 2012, 07:49:33 AM

Title: Gear cutting. Shaper motion
Post by: Len-Tikular on October 26, 2012, 07:49:33 AM

Has anyone used their gantry with a 'fixed' preformed tool to cut gear wheels. Much like a shaper machine.
I have some involute gear cutters but they are far too big for my spindle. I thought I could afix a special shaped tool to my gantry and use back/forward (shaper) motion to cut my gear. The part would be rotated on my 4th axis at the required incremental degrees.

Thanks

George

Title: Re: Gear cutting. Shaper motion
Post by: BR549 on October 26, 2012, 11:44:19 AM

IT has been done for years on lathes AND mills. BUT it creates a lot of side load on the gantry style mills/routers that you would normally not see. Running it in the X axis inline with the gantry would be the best.

Give it a whirl, (;-) TP

Title: Re: Gear cutting. Shaper motion
Post by: Len-Tikular on October 26, 2012, 02:02:08 PM

Thanks for the reply.

I'll try it om aluminum first.

Title: Re: Gear cutting. Shaper motion
Post by: ostie01 on October 26, 2012, 05:49:39 PM

I don't think it's a really good idea.

What will happen is the tool will flex the gantry upward until it can't flex anymore and then it will take a good chunck of material and probably jam the machine.

Jeff

Title: Re: Gear cutting. Shaper motion
Post by: BR549 on October 26, 2012, 05:58:46 PM

Light cuts grasshopper, light cuts. I have done it on a small lathe by hand,  tool held in a flimsy toolpost and MANY MANY ins and outs. AND a very SHARP high rake bit.

(;-)TP

Title: Re: Gear cutting. Shaper motion
Post by: TOTALLYRC on October 27, 2012, 06:06:14 AM

I did it to cut an internal keyway for a motor cuopling. It worked like a charm on my lathe. I took ~.001 per pass. It can be time consuming but for a one off it can't be beat.

Mike