Segmented Rake Face Gear Cutting Tool Design

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing gear cutting tools face limitations in machining efficiency and tool longevity due to restricted design freedom for rake angles and chip removal, particularly when machining multiple workpieces and hardened pre-cut materials.

Innovation Solution

The gear cutting tool design features cutting edges formed by the intersection of flat surfaces with distinct normal vectors, allowing for independent rake angle adjustments and enabling negative rake angles on both sides, enhancing machining flexibility and resharpening ease by maintaining flat surfaces and optimized wedge angles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional gear cutting tool designs are used with curved or complex rake faces, then the tool can maintain traditional geometric configurations, but the design freedom for rake angles is restricted and resharpening becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedesign freedom for rake anglesVSAvoidresharpening difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The rake face is segmented into multiple flat surfaces (first flat surface, second flat surface, third flat surface) instead of a single continuous curved surface. Each flat surface can be independently configured with different orientations and angles, allowing independent optimization of rake angles for different cutting edges while maintaining flat geometry that is easy to resharpen

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs asymmetric configuration of the flat surfaces with different normal vectors and orientations. The first and second flat surfaces have different orientations relative to the cutting tooth, enabling different rake angles (including negative rake angles) on opposite sides of the cutting tooth, providing design freedom while maintaining manufacturability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

2Adaptability or versatility

If the gear cutting tool is designed for machining multiple workpieces with varying requirements, then machining flexibility improves, but the tool structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemachining flexibilityVSAvoidtool structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cutting tooth is designed with multiple flat surfaces that can accommodate different cutting configurations (positive rake, negative rake, zero rake) on the same tool. This multi-functional design allows a single tool to machine different workpiece types and materials without requiring multiple specialized tools, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining flexibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If negative rake angles are used on both cutting edges to improve chip removal, then chip removal efficiency increases, but the tool design becomes more constrained

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechip removal efficiencyVSAvoiddesign constraints
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Each flat surface is locally optimized with specific orientation and normal vector direction to achieve negative rake angles where beneficial for chip removal. The first flat surface and second flat surface can have different orientations tailored to their respective cutting edges, allowing local optimization of chip flow characteristics without constraining the overall tool design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3481575B1Wheel-shaped gear working tool, method of working gears, method of dressing gear working tools and gear making machine
Publication Date: 2020.06.03 GLEASON PFAUTER MASCHFAB
  • EP3481575B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3481575B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3481575B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a wheel-shaped gear cutting tool, in particular a peeling wheel, for machining sets of teeth, in particular in the kinematics of the hob-peeling method, comprising cutting teeth, cutting edges being provided on the side of said cutting teeth which, during machining engagement, faces the set of teeth to be machined, wherein a first cutting edge of a cutting tooth is formed by the intersection of a tooth flank of the cutting tooth with a first, in particular flat, surface belonging to the rake face of said first cutting edge, the normal vector of said first surface at the first cutting edge having an orientation different from the orientation of the normal vector of a second, in particular flat, surface, the intersection of which with the other tooth flank of the cutting tooth forms a second cutting edge of the cutting tooth and which belongs to the rake face of the second cutting edge, wherein the normal vector of the second surface at the second cutting edge starts at the same radial distance from the axis of rotation of the gear cutting tool as the normal vector of the first surface.