Shared-Rail Hobbing Machine Layout for Faster Chamfering
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gear hobbing machines require significant construction effort and are structurally complex due to a large, heavy common carriage that carries both the hobbing head and chamfering devices, leading to mechanical wear and inefficiencies in the machining process.
Innovation Solution
Distributing the essential processing devices over two carriages, with the hobbing head on one carriage and chamfering devices on another, shared rail system, reducing the structural complexity and load on the slide guide systems, allowing for independent motor-driven movement and precise positioning without the need for a large common carriage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a common carriage is used to carry both the hobbing head and chamfering devices, then gear hobbing and chamfering can be performed in one workpiece setup, but the carriage becomes very heavy and large, causing considerable structural complexity and mechanical stress on the guide system
Solution Approach 1:
The common carriage is divided into two separate carriages: a first carriage for the hobbing head and a second carriage for the chamfering devices. Both carriages share a common rail system, allowing them to move independently. This segmentation reduces the weight and complexity of each individual carriage while maintaining the capability to perform both operations in one setup.
2Productivity
If a common carriage supports both the hobbing head and chamfering devices, then integration is achieved, but the carriage weight places considerable mechanical stress on the carriage guide system causing rapid wear
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the hobbing head and chamfering devices onto different carriages, the weight load on each carriage guide system is significantly reduced. Each carriage guide system only needs to support its respective carriage, eliminating the cumulative weight stress that caused rapid wear in the single-common-carriage design.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a large common carriage is used to accommodate both machining devices, then both operations can be performed simultaneously, but the carriage becomes difficult to manufacture and assemble
Solution Approach 1:
The design separates the multi-functional capability into two specialized, smaller carriages that can be manufactured and assembled independently using standard components. This segmentation makes each carriage easier to manufacture and assemble compared to a single large common carriage, while the shared rail system maintains the multi-functionality of the overall machine.
4Device complexity
If two separate machines are used for gear hobbing and chamfering, then equipment simplicity is maintained, but the process becomes time-consuming due to multiple transport and clamping procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges two separate machines into one integrated machine tool by placing both the hobbing head and chamfering devices on carriages that share a common rail system and work on the same workpiece. This allows gear hobbing and chamfering to be performed in one setup without removing or repositioning the workpiece, eliminating transport time and multiple clamping procedures while maintaining equipment simplicity.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A hobbing machine (1), comprising - a workpiece spindle (3), by means of which a workpiece (21) can be rotated about a workpiece axis (WSA), - a hobbing head (16), - at least one chamfering device (17, 18), - a first slide (11) having a first slide guidance system (13), the hobbing head (16) being arranged on the first slide (11), - a rail system (5), the first slide (11) being movably arranged on the rail system (5) by means of the first slide guidance system (13) of the first slide, is characterized in that the hobbing machine (1) also comprises - a second slide (12) having a second slide guidance system (14), the at least one chamfering device (17, 18) being arranged on the second slide (12), and that the second slide (12) is also movably arranged on the rail system (5) by means of the second slide system (14) of the second slide so that the first slide (11) and the second slide (12) can be moved on an identical section (36) of the rail system (5). The invention presents a structurally simple hobbing machine by means of which a workpiece can be hobbed and chamfered in a short amount of time.