Gear milling groove calibration device and calibration method
By using the expansion sleeve, indexing plate, and positioning seat of the gear milling calibration device, automatic clamping and precise detection of workpieces are achieved, solving the problems of poor product consistency and low efficiency caused by traditional manual alignment, and improving processing accuracy and production efficiency.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202512037163.8
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-12-31
- Publication Date
- 2026-02-24
AI Technical Summary
In traditional gear milling, manually aligning the angle between the tooth groove center and the single key center relies on worker experience, resulting in poor product consistency, high scrap rate, low production efficiency, and limited fixture positioning accuracy, which affects gear transmission performance.
A gear milling calibration device is adopted, including a shrinking sleeve, an indexing plate, and a positioning seat. The workpiece is automatically clamped through a linear drive device. Combined with an indexing probe, it performs precise detection and calibration to ensure that the reference is consistent after the workpiece is clamped, thus realizing the integration of detection, calibration and machining.
It significantly improves the relative angle accuracy between the keyway and the tooth groove, reduces the scrap rate, improves processing quality and efficiency, and reduces human error and maintenance costs.
Smart Images

Figure CN121551682A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to the field of automatic milling fixture technology, and particularly to a gear milling groove calibration device and calibration method. Background Technology
[0002] In modern mechanical manufacturing, gears, as key transmission components, directly affect the performance and production efficiency of mechanical equipment due to their machining accuracy and efficiency. Timing driven gears, in precision mechanical systems such as engines and gearboxes, play a crucial role in transmitting power and ensuring precise synchronization of motion, thus requiring extremely stringent machining accuracy. Among these processes, keyway milling is a critical step in the machining of timing driven gears. The positional accuracy of the keyway, especially the accuracy of the angle between the center of the tooth groove and the center of the single key, plays a decisive role in the smoothness of gear transmission, noise control, and the overall reliability of the equipment.
[0003] Traditional milling methods reveal numerous drawbacks when dealing with high-precision parts like timing driven gears. Firstly, the manual alignment of the tooth groove center and the keyway center heavily relies on the worker's experience and skill. Differences in worker habits and skill levels lead to inconsistent product quality and a high scrap rate. Furthermore, the manual alignment process is tedious, requiring repeated measurements and adjustments, consuming significant time and effort, greatly reducing production efficiency and increasing costs. Secondly, traditional fixtures have limited positioning accuracy, failing to meet the high-precision machining requirements of modern manufacturing. During machining, even minor deformations, vibrations, and positioning errors in the fixture can cause keyway position deviations, affecting gear transmission performance and shortening equipment lifespan. Therefore, developing a timing driven gear keyway milling fixture capable of automatically aligning the angle between the tooth groove center and the keyway center has significant practical implications and broad application prospects. Summary of the Invention
[0004] To address the above technical problems, this invention provides a gear milling calibration device that effectively eliminates the influence of human factors on machining accuracy, improves the stability and consistency of product quality, significantly shortens the processing cycle, increases production efficiency, reduces labor intensity, and enhances the market competitiveness of enterprises.
[0005] The technical solution adopted in this invention is as follows:
[0006] On one hand, the present invention provides a gear milling calibration device, including a base, wherein the base is provided with:
[0007] The workpiece clamping assembly includes a power rod horizontally inserted in the machine base, one end of which extends out of the machine base and is connected to a linear drive device, and the other end of which is movably fitted with a tensioning sleeve;
[0008] The calibration assembly includes an indexing plate rotatably mounted in the base, a power tie rod passing through the center of the indexing plate, and a tension sleeve fixedly connected to the indexing plate;
[0009] The positioning assembly includes a positioning seat coaxially arranged with the expansion sleeve and an indexing probe arranged above the workpiece to be processed. The positioning seat is fixedly connected to the expansion sleeve, and the indexing probe is fixedly connected to the machine base through a lifting bracket.
[0010] Furthermore, the power rod includes a primary power rod and a secondary power rod that are fixedly connected in sequence. The primary power rod is fixedly connected to the drive end of the linear drive device. The indexing turntable is sleeved on the primary power rod. The positioning seat and the tensioning sleeve are sleeved on the secondary power rod. The free end of the secondary power rod movably passes through the tensioning sleeve.
[0011] Furthermore, the indexing plate is mounted in the machine base via a bracket, and the machine base is equipped with a motor and a reducer. The motor is connected to the indexing plate via the reducer, and the indexing plate is fixedly connected to the expansion sleeve via a connecting plate.
[0012] Furthermore, the linear drive device is a hydraulic cylinder.
[0013] Furthermore, the expansion sleeve includes a first annular base, on which an expansion sleeve is coaxially arranged. The first annular base is connected to the indexing plate via a connecting plate. The expansion sleeve has multiple expansion slots in the axial direction. The outer circumferential surface of the free end of the expansion sleeve has multiple expansion protrusions located between adjacent expansion slots. The free end of the power pull rod moves axially along the central hole of the expansion sleeve, causing the free end of the expansion sleeve to clamp or release the workpiece.
[0014] Furthermore, the positioning seat includes a second annular base, which is connected to the first annular base by bolts. A positioning sleeve is coaxially provided on the second annular base, and a plurality of limiting protrusions are provided on the inner circumferential surface of the free end of the positioning sleeve. The limiting protrusions are spaced apart from the tightening protrusions.
[0015] Furthermore, the central hole of the expansion sleeve is clearance-fitted with the rod body of the secondary power rod, and the free end of the secondary power rod is inverted conical in shape, used to tighten the expansion sleeve.
[0016] Furthermore, the expansion sleeve and the positioning sleeve are arranged coaxially, the free end of the expansion sleeve extends out of the positioning sleeve, and the distance between the free ends of the expansion sleeve and the positioning sleeve is h, where h < the hub width of the gear.
[0017] Secondly, the present invention provides a method for gear milling groove calibration using the above-mentioned device, comprising the following steps:
[0018] S1. Mount the workpiece onto the expansion sleeve to complete the initial placement of the workpiece;
[0019] S2. The linear drive device is activated, driving the power rod to move along the central hole shaft of the expansion sleeve, causing the expansion sleeve to expand and thus clamp the workpiece;
[0020] S3. After the workpiece is tightened, the lifting bracket drives the indexing probe to move downward to accurately detect and position the tooth groove angle of the workpiece.
[0021] S4. After the inspection is completed, rotate the indexing plate to the angle that makes the keyway milling position and the center of the tooth groove meet the processing requirements.
[0022] Beneficial effects: This invention, through the coaxial integration of a shrinking sleeve, indexing plate, and positioning seat, combined with a self-centering shrinking structure, ensures uniform reference after workpiece clamping; it introduces an indexing probe to detect the tooth groove angle and provides feedback control for the rotation of the indexing plate, achieving integrated "detection-correction-machining" and significantly improving the relative angle accuracy between the keyway and the tooth groove; by replacing the shrinking sleeve, it can be adapted to gear workpieces with different inner hole sizes, ensuring that the workpiece will not shift during subsequent processing. The structure is reliable, key components are detachable, reducing maintenance costs, avoiding errors caused by traditional scribing and manual tool setting, reducing scrap rate, and improving processing quality and efficiency. Attached Figure Description
[0023] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the present invention;
[0024] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of one embodiment;
[0025] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the expansion sleeve structure;
[0026] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the positioning seat.
[0027] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the secondary power rod. Detailed Implementation
[0028] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.
[0029] It should be noted that all directional indications in the embodiments of the present invention (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.) are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of the components in a specific posture (as shown in the attached figures). If the specific posture changes, the directional indication will also change accordingly. Furthermore, the descriptions involving "first," "second," etc., in this invention are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, features defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of those features. Additionally, the technical solutions of the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but this must be based on the ability of those skilled in the art to implement them. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or cannot be implemented, it should be considered that such a combination of technical solutions does not exist and is not within the scope of protection claimed by the present invention.
[0030] Please see Figure 1 The present invention provides a gear milling calibration device, comprising a base 1, on which a workpiece clamping assembly is provided, including a power rod 2 horizontally inserted in the base 1, one end of the power rod 2 extending out of the base 1 and connected to a linear drive device 3, and the other end of the power rod 2 movably mounted with a tension sleeve 4; a calibration assembly, including an indexing plate 5 rotatably mounted in the base 1, the power rod 2 passing through the center of the indexing plate 5, and the tension sleeve 4 fixedly connected to the indexing plate 5; and a positioning assembly, including a positioning seat 6 coaxially arranged with the tension sleeve 4 and a positioning base 6 mounted on the base 1. The indexing probe 7 is located above the workpiece to be processed. The positioning seat 6 is fixedly connected to the expansion sleeve 4. The indexing probe 7 is fixedly connected to the machine base 1 via the lifting bracket 9. Specifically, by integrating the three major functions of clamping, indexing calibration, and positioning detection into the same machine base, the structure is compact and easy to automate. The expansion sleeve 4, the indexing plate 5, and the positioning seat 6 are coaxially arranged to ensure that the rotation center of the workpiece after clamping is consistent with the processing / inspection datum, significantly improving the angular positioning accuracy. The power tie rod is driven by a linear drive device to realize the automatic tightening / unlocking of the expansion sleeve, improving clamping efficiency and reducing human error.
[0031] In some specific embodiments, the indexing probe 7 is a contact probe that acquires the tooth groove angle deviation in real time. It is understood that the indexing probe 7 can also be a non-contact probe, as long as it can achieve accurate positioning of the tooth groove angle.
[0032] In some specific embodiments, the lifting bracket 9 includes a horizontal frame 91 and a linear push rod motor 92 mounted on the horizontal frame 91. The extended end of the linear push rod motor 92 extends vertically downward to connect to the indexing probe 7. It is understood that a cylinder or the like can also be installed on the horizontal frame 91, which can also drive the indexing probe 7 to reciprocate in the horizontal direction. Its function remains unchanged, and will not be described in detail here.
[0033] For some specific embodiments, please refer to Figure 1 The power rod 2 includes a primary power rod 21 and a secondary power rod 22 fixedly connected in sequence. The primary power rod 21 is fixedly connected to the drive end of the linear drive device 3. The indexing turntable is sleeved on the primary power rod 21, and the positioning seat 6 and the tensioning sleeve 4 are sleeved on the secondary power rod 22. The free end of the secondary power rod 22 extends movably through the tensioning sleeve 4. Specifically, the primary power rod 21 bears the transmission load, while the secondary power rod 22 focuses on the tensioning action, avoiding stress concentration and improving system reliability. The free end of the secondary power rod 22 extends through the tensioning sleeve, providing space for the inverted cone structure and achieving effective tensioning.
[0034] For some specific embodiments, please refer to Figure 1 The indexing plate 5 is mounted in the machine base 1 via a bracket. The machine base 1 is equipped with a servo motor 51 and a reducer 52. The servo motor 51 is connected to the indexing plate 5 via the reducer 52. The indexing plate 5 is fixedly connected to the expansion sleeve 4 via a connecting plate 8. Specifically, the servo motor and reducer can achieve precise angle positioning to meet the strict angle relationship requirements between the keyway and the tooth groove of the gear. The rigid connection between the indexing plate and the expansion sleeve ensures that the workpiece rotates synchronously with the indexing plate without relative slippage, thus ensuring calibration consistency. The servo motor 51 and the reducer 52 are both mature products and will not be described in detail here.
[0035] In some specific embodiments, the linear drive device 3 is a hydraulic cylinder, which can provide a smooth and controllable driving force; it is understood that the linear drive device 3 can also be a linear motor, a pneumatic cylinder, etc., which can also drive the power rod to reciprocate in the horizontal direction, and its function remains unchanged, which will not be described in detail here.
[0036] For some specific embodiments, please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 3The expansion sleeve 4 includes a first annular base 41, on which an expansion sleeve 42 is coaxially mounted. The first annular base 41 is connected to the indexing plate 5 via a connecting plate 8. The expansion sleeve 42 has multiple expansion slots 43 in the axial direction. The outer circumferential surface of the free end of the expansion sleeve 42 has multiple expansion protrusions 44, which are located between adjacent expansion slots 43. The free end of the power pull rod 2 moves axially along the central hole of the expansion sleeve 42, causing the free end of the expansion sleeve 42 to clamp or release the workpiece. Specifically, clamping / releasing of the workpiece can be completed simply by axial pushing and pulling. The expansion sleeve expands evenly through the multiple expansion slots and expansion protrusions, achieving self-centering clamping of the inner hole of the workpiece. The multiple expansion protrusions are located between the expansion slots to avoid excessive local stress and protect the surface of the workpiece.
[0037] For some specific embodiments, please refer to Figure 2 and Figure 4 The positioning component includes a second annular base 61, which is bolted to the first annular base 41. A positioning sleeve 62 is coaxially mounted on the second annular base 61. The inner circumferential surface of the free end of the positioning sleeve 62 is provided with multiple limiting protrusions 63. The limiting protrusions 63 are spaced apart from the tightening protrusions 44. Specifically, the tightening protrusions are responsible for clamping, and the limiting protrusions assist in circumferential positioning to prevent slight rotation of the workpiece and improve the accuracy of repeated positioning. The spaced arrangement of the limiting protrusions and the tightening protrusions avoids motion interference and ensures smooth tightening action.
[0038] For some specific embodiments, please refer to Figure 2 and Figure 5 The central hole of the expansion sleeve 4 is clearance-fitted with the rod body of the secondary power rod 22. The free end of the secondary power rod 22 is inverted conical and used to tighten the expansion sleeve 4. Specifically, the clearance fit between the central hole and the secondary power rod ensures smooth movement and allows for minor adjustments to accommodate manufacturing tolerances. The inverted conical free end forces the expansion sleeve to expand radially when it is axially advanced, amplifying the clamping force using the wedge principle, making the clamping more reliable.
[0039] For some specific embodiments, please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 The expansion sleeve 42 and the positioning sleeve 62 are coaxially arranged, and the free end of the expansion sleeve 42 extends out of the positioning sleeve 62. The distance between the free ends of the expansion sleeve 42 and the positioning sleeve 62 is h, where h < the width of the gear hub. Specifically, the extension length is reasonably controlled to ensure that the entire hub area is supported by the expansion sleeve and the positioning sleeve to prevent cantilever deformation, and to leave sufficient operating space for the milling cutter while ensuring clamping.
[0040] The gear milling calibration device provided in this embodiment of the invention will be further described below with reference to a specific application scenario:
[0041] A gear milling calibration device includes a base 1 and an indexing probe 7. The indexing probe 7 is located above the workpiece to be processed. The indexing probe 7 is fixedly connected to the base 1 via a lifting bracket 9. A power rod 2 is horizontally inserted through the base 1. The power rod 2 includes a primary power rod 21 and a secondary power rod 22 fixedly connected in sequence. One end of the primary power rod 21 extends out of the base 1 and is connected to a hydraulic cylinder. The hydraulic cylinder is fixedly connected to the base 1 via a connecting plate 8. The other end of the primary power rod 21 passes through the center of the indexing plate 5 and is fixedly connected to the secondary power rod 22. A tensioning sleeve 4 is movably installed on the free end of the secondary power rod 22. A positioning seat 6 is coaxially sleeved on the tensioning sleeve 4. The expansion sleeve 4, indexing plate 5, and positioning seat 6 are coaxially arranged to ensure that the rotation center of the workpiece after clamping is consistent with the machining / inspection datum. The indexing plate 5 is rotatably mounted in the machine base 1 via a bracket. The machine base 1 is equipped with a servo motor 51 and a reducer 52. The servo motor 51 is connected to the indexing plate 5 via the reducer 52. The indexing plate 5 is fixedly connected to the expansion sleeve 4 via a connecting plate 8. The servo motor and reducer can achieve precise angle positioning. The expansion sleeve 4 includes a first annular base 41, on which an expansion sleeve 42 is coaxially arranged. The first annular base 41 is connected to the indexing plate 5 via the connecting plate 8. The expansion sleeve 42 has four expansion slots 43 in the axial direction. The outer circumferential surface of the free end of the expansion sleeve 42 has four tightening protrusions 44, located between adjacent expansion slots 43. The central hole of the expansion sleeve 42 is clearance-fitted with the rod body of the secondary power rod 22. The secondary power rod 22 includes a straight section 22a and an inverted conical section 22b for tightening the expansion sleeve 4. The positioning assembly includes a second annular base 61, which is bolted to the first annular base 41. A positioning sleeve 62 is coaxially mounted on the second annular base 61. The inner circumferential surface of the free end of the positioning sleeve 62 has four limiting protrusions 63. 3. The expansion sleeve 42 is spaced apart from the tightening protrusion 44. The free end of the secondary power rod 22 moves axially along the central hole of the expansion sleeve 42, so that the free end of the expansion sleeve 42 clamps or releases the workpiece. The tightening protrusion is responsible for clamping, and the limiting protrusion assists in circumferential positioning to prevent the workpiece from rotating slightly. The limiting protrusion and the tightening protrusion are spaced apart to avoid motion interference. The expansion sleeve 42 and the positioning sleeve 62 are coaxially arranged. The free end of the expansion sleeve 42 passes through the positioning sleeve 62. The distance between the free ends of the expansion sleeve 42 and the positioning sleeve 62 is h, where h < the hub width of the gear. This ensures that the workpiece is clamped while leaving enough operating space for the milling cutter. All electronic components are electrically connected to the control center (not shown in the diagram).
[0042] The method for calibrating gear milling grooves using the above-mentioned device includes the following steps:
[0043] S1. Mount the gear onto the expansion sleeve 42, with the gear hub ring surface abutting against the wheel limiting protrusion 63 and the gear side abutting against the free end of the positioning sleeve 62, thus completing the initial placement of the workpiece;
[0044] S2. The hydraulic cylinder is started, and the main force rod 21 drives the secondary force rod 22 to move along the central hole shaft of the expansion sleeve 42, so that the four expansion protrusions 44 on the outer peripheral surface of the free end of the expansion sleeve 42 expand outward, thereby making the expansion protrusions 44 abut against the gear hub ring surface, thereby clamping the workpiece.
[0045] S3. After the workpiece is tightened, the control center starts the lifting bracket 9, which drives the indexing probe 7 to move downward, accurately detects and positions the tooth groove angle of workpiece a, obtains the tooth groove angle deviation in real time, and realizes closed-loop feedback calibration.
[0046] S4. After the inspection is completed, the control center starts the servo motor 51. The servo motor, together with the reducer, drives the indexing plate to rotate until the keyway milling position is rotated to an angle that meets the machining requirements with the center of the tooth groove. The indexing plate angle is automatically adjusted according to the inspection results so that the keyway milling position and the center of the tooth groove meet the drawing requirements, fundamentally solving the problems of large errors and low efficiency of traditional manual tool setting.
[0047] Finally, it should be noted that the above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Those skilled in the art, under the guidance of the present invention, can make various similar representations without departing from the spirit and claims of the present invention, and such modifications all fall within the protection scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. A gear milling calibration device, characterized in that, Includes a base (1), on which are provided: The workpiece clamping assembly includes a power rod (2) that is horizontally inserted in the machine base (1). One end of the power rod (2) extends out of the machine base (1) and is connected to a linear drive device (3). The other end of the power rod (2) is movably fitted with a shrink sleeve (4). The calibration assembly includes an indexing plate (5) rotatably mounted in the base (1), a power tie rod (2) passing through the center of the indexing plate (5), and a tension sleeve (4) fixedly connected to the indexing plate (5). The positioning assembly includes a positioning seat (6) coaxially arranged with the expansion sleeve (4) and an indexing probe (7) arranged above the workpiece to be processed. The positioning seat (6) is fixedly connected to the expansion sleeve (4), and the indexing probe (7) is fixedly connected to the machine base (1) through a lifting bracket (9).
2. The gear milling calibration device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The power rod (2) includes a main force rod (21) and a secondary force rod (22) that are fixedly connected in sequence. The main force rod (21) is fixedly connected to the drive end of the linear drive device (3). The indexing turntable is sleeved on the main force rod (21). The positioning seat (6) and the expansion sleeve (4) are sleeved on the secondary force rod (22). The free end of the secondary force rod (22) moves through the expansion sleeve (4).
3. The gear milling calibration device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The indexing plate (5) is mounted in the base (1) by a bracket. The base (1) is provided with a servo motor (51) and a reducer (52). The servo motor (51) is connected to the indexing plate (5) through the reducer (52). The indexing plate (5) is fixedly connected to the expansion sleeve (4) through a connecting plate (8).
4. The gear milling calibration device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The linear drive device (3) is a hydraulic cylinder.
5. The gear milling calibration device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The expansion sleeve (4) includes a first annular base (41), on which an expansion sleeve (42) is coaxially arranged. The first annular base (41) is connected to the indexing plate (5) through the connecting plate (8). The expansion sleeve (42) has multiple expansion slots (43) in the axial direction. The outer circumferential surface of the free end of the expansion sleeve (42) is provided with multiple expansion protrusions (44). The expansion protrusions (44) are located between adjacent expansion slots (43). The free end of the power tie rod (2) moves axially along the central hole of the expansion sleeve (42), so that the free end of the expansion sleeve (42) clamps or releases the workpiece.
6. The gear milling calibration device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The positioning base (6) includes a second annular base (61), which is connected to the first annular base (41) by bolts. A positioning sleeve (62) is coaxially provided on the second annular base (61). The inner circumferential surface of the free end of the positioning sleeve (62) is provided with a plurality of limiting protrusions (63), which are spaced apart from the tightening protrusions (44).
7. The gear milling calibration device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The central hole of the expansion sleeve (4) is clearance-fitted with the rod body of the secondary power rod (22), and the free end of the secondary power rod (22) is inverted conical, used to tighten the expansion sleeve (4).
8. The gear milling calibration device according to claim 6, characterized in that, The expansion sleeve (42) and the positioning sleeve (62) are arranged on the same axis. The free end of the expansion sleeve (42) extends out of the positioning sleeve (62). The distance between the free ends of the expansion sleeve (42) and the positioning sleeve (62) is h, where h < the hub width of the gear.
9. A method for gear milling groove calibration based on the apparatus described in claims 1-8, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: S1. Place the workpiece on the expansion sleeve (4) to complete the initial placement of the workpiece; S2. The linear drive device (3) is started, driving the power rod (2) to move along the central hole shaft of the expansion sleeve (4), causing the expansion sleeve (4) to expand, thereby clamping the workpiece; S3. After the workpiece is tightened, the lifting bracket (9) drives the indexing probe (7) to move downward to accurately detect and position the tooth groove angle of the workpiece. S4. After the inspection is completed, rotate the indexing plate to the angle that makes the keyway milling position and the center of the tooth groove meet the machining requirements.