Gear Wheel Machining with Closed-Loop Geometry Correction

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current gear wheel production processes are becoming increasingly complex, requiring higher accuracy and resulting in discards, especially in single-part or small series production, due to deviations between the designed and produced gear wheels.

Innovation Solution

A software-based, computer-assisted method that autonomously designs and machines gear wheels by specifying function-oriented geometry, considering available tools and machine kinematics, allowing for the production of gear wheels with precise geometry and surface structure matching the original design through iterative correction and adaptation of production data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If traditional manual design and machining methods are used for gear wheels, then flexibility in design modifications is maintained, but manufacturing precision and reliability deteriorate due to deviations between designed and produced geometry

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegear wheel geometry precisionVSAvoidproduction process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical design and machining processes with computer-based automated systems. The method uses software to perform design calculations, generate machining data, and control machine tools, substituting human operators and manual procedures with automated computational systems. This substitution eliminates manual errors and ensures precise reproduction of the designed geometry, directly resolving the contradiction between manufacturing precision and process complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service through automated closed-loop control where the computer automatically processes design data, generates machining instructions, controls the machine tool operations, and verifies results without requiring manual intervention at each step. The production process serves itself by using the designed geometry data to automatically guide the machining operations, ensuring consistency between design intent and manufactured output.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Manufacturing precision

If multiple computation and machining steps are performed to achieve high accuracy, then manufacturing precision improves, but productivity deteriorates due to increased process time and iterations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegear wheel accuracyVSAvoidproduction efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by performing all design calculations, tolerance analyses, and machining data generation in advance using computer software before actual production begins. The complete production plan including all necessary computation steps and machining parameters is prepared beforehand, eliminating the need for iterative adjustments during manufacturing. This preliminary computational work enables direct, accurate production without repeated iterations, resolving the contradiction between precision and productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The method ensures continuity of useful action by establishing an integrated computer-controlled production process where design data flows continuously into machining operations without interruption. The automated system maintains continuous operation from design through manufacturing, eliminating idle time and iterative rework cycles. This continuous process ensures that each machining operation directly contributes to the final precision without wasteful interruptions, simultaneously achieving high accuracy and productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Manufacturing precision

If iterative corrections are performed when produced gear wheels do not correspond to design, then manufacturing precision improves, but loss of time increases due to repeated production cycles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedesign conformityVSAvoidproduction cycle time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by using the computer system to automatically compare produced gear wheel measurements with the original design data and identify any deviations. This feedback mechanism allows for immediate detection and correction of dimensional variations, ensuring that subsequent production runs achieve design conformity without time-consuming iterative cycles. The systematic feedback loop prevents the accumulation of errors and eliminates the need for repeated trial production, resolving the contradiction between precision and time loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The method applies copying by using the original design geometry data as a precise digital template that is directly copied into machining instructions and production data. The computer system reproduces the designed geometry exactly as specified, eliminating variations that would require iterative corrections. This digital copying approach ensures that the produced gear wheels match the design intent from the first production cycle, preventing time loss from repeated corrections while maintaining high manufacturing precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS11999053B2Method for designing and machining a gear wheel, and corresponding machine tool and software
Publication Date: 2024.06.04 KLINGELNBERG AG
  • US11999053B2 patent drawing
  • US11999053B2 patent drawing
  • US11999053B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Method comprising:designing a gear in a software-based computer-aided manner in order to obtain a function-oriented geometry,using a software-based computer-aided method for ascertaining a theoretically producible gear geometry corresponding to or an approximation of the function-oriented geometry,providing production data representing the theoretically producible geometry,machining a gear using the production data in a CNC-controlled processing machine,measuring the gear to obtain an actual data set of the gear,carrying out a comparison of the actual data set with the production data in order to ascertain at least one correction variable,using the correction variable in order to ascertain corrected production data from the production data or carry out a machining correction in the processing machine, andpost-machining the gear using the machining correction or using the corrected production data in order to machine at least one additional gear in the processing machine.