Effects, of Hob Quality and Resharpening

Errors on Generatmg Accuracy

Brian w. OuH
American Pfauter Limited
Ilk Grove Village, Illinois
Introduction
The modern day requirement for
precision finished hobbed gears, coupled
with the high accuracy characteristics of
modern CNC hob bing machines, d •
mands high toolaccur cy.
Modern CNC hobbing machines are
capable of pr.oducing gears with lead and
pitchaccuracies of AGMA 14-15, but are
stiUlimited by the manufactured accur-
acy of the hob 'to a lower quality level
on the involute profile (Fig. 1). For high
accuracy hobbed profiles, high accuracy
hobsare necessary.
The geometric peculiarities of the in,·
volute worm, from which the hob l
derived, must be dearly understood to
avoid loss of hob bed accur,acy. Pur-
chased tool accuracy and tool resharpen-
ing maintenance bear SO'Utinyin, order
to preserve hobbed a curacy.

Geometrical
P' culiarities of Hob
A hob is derived from the involute
helicoid worm. A hob i a rotating eut-

AlffHOR:

FI '~UI\O\UI BRIAN W. CLUFF is safes mRnager of

" - IPllel'lYOJloflon American Pjcllder Ltd. He has been' involved
IR 1!'!oIIIe
IF;IJ= Ileod
with geRf manufRcturing and measuring
ftl = ioolMo-looth oomposHe machinery since 1963, He is t':I/~author of over
IAI - Total composlte 25 technica! papers on gear manufacturing and
IIOUIICE 't:e:lWAIISQNS: DiN 3962' (~07.) and .AGMA 30000 measun'ng Rnd ,is the aut.horleditor of Gear
NOll; SH' lHf ICI\W sr~ I'()I;I ElW:I~ Process DW!Qmics, He is II' frequent speaker
at the AGMA Gear Symposium and ,the SMf
Gear Manutadun'ng {:, Processing Clinic, He
is a member of SMf ,and ASME and an ac-
tive member of several AGMA committees.
Mr. Cluff isa gradJJate of Washington tend in
Fig. 1- Adlieva'b!e accuracies by machining method, University. Lexington, VA

September/'October 1987 31
 ting tool with its cutting edges arranged
along a helix. It is used for generating
gear teeth or other forms in a cylindrical
workpiece (Fig. 2).
A hob is a reducing cylinder. Over its
usable lifetime its diameter gets smaller
due to repeated sharpenings. Each time
it is resharpened it changes size relative
to the amount of outside (tip) clearance

In_ ........ "''''11'_

StrL.g:H11.l1OM1
----orH' ,_-I,
__

.....
_'_01'
01 ....
and flank clearance (cam or backoff).
Every hob is designed with a. basic
(generating) rack profile which defitnes
SlOtt ",,'_ifiut_
I1bprQiifICM,'liR',itI,,*,)
---'-
--.....j...--'
....
the pressure angle, the addendum and
N~HCt!Onol
__ ,,,01Il00 dedendum, the fillet radius, design
modifications of the addendum profile,
Fig. ,2-Geomelrical elements of a typical cylindrical hob. and design modifications for preshave,
pregrind, preroll and prehard finish.

The Nature
of the Enveloping Cut
Deviations from the theoretical or
design generating helix of the hob (Pigs.
3 and 4) effect the polygonal pat.h oEthe
enveloping cut along thegea.r tooth
profile.
Figs. 3 and 4 show a single thread hob.
In one revolution of the hob each of the
U cutting edges removes meta] from the
tooth space enveloping the profile. The
profile is made up of a series ofindivid-
ual cuts. The more cutting edges in a
hob, the tiner the network of envelop-
ingcuts, The fewer the number of cut-
ting edges in the hob, the rougher the in-
volute profile.
If the hob is manufactured with devia-
tions along its generating helix (thread
error) or is resharpened so as to displace
one or more cutting edges from the nom-
inal pitch line cylinder of hob, the effect
is a deviation in the network of envelop-
ing cuts. This deviation manifests itself
as pr-ofile error (Fig. 5).
Incorrect resharpening of the hob pro-
duces deviations in the design geometry
which ·effecl the basic rack tooth form of
Forest City Gear features the most modern gear cutting facility
the hob, the positlon of one cutting edge
available to you in the wond, We speciallize in hobbing and
to another, the rake of the hob cutting
sl1api'ng ultra precision g,ears in low. medium and high volume.
edge, and the lead of the gash (whether
We aliso offer crown hobbing on the latest auto-loading
straight or spiral), These deviations are
I'lobbing machines. "
reproduced in varying magnitudes on the
Tile next time you need precision gears, come to The Source.
involute profile of the gear.
Forest City Gear. 11715 Main St." P.O.,Box 80, Roscoe, IL 61073.
Mounting a theoretically perfect hob
(815)1623-21168 IFAX: (815) 623-8620
on an ,eccentrical1y running a"rbor 'causes
the hob cutting edges, to advance and
retract in one revolution ..This causes an
advance and retreat of the network of
enveloping cuts from the nominal, pro-
ducing a "wandering" involute profile.
CIRCLE A-27 ON REA'DER REPLY CARD
38 Gear Technology
 ~.. -
2,..J:l_
-'\p.-

Fig. J-A single thread hob in one revolution

envelopes a tooth space with a series of polygonal
cuts. (In this instance 12 gashes are shcwn.)

Achievable Profile Accuracies by

!Fin_ishMobbing
For most CNC hobbing machines the
burden for involute accuracy rests with
the hob. Pitch and lead accuracy are built
into the machine kinemabcs and align-
Tlheonly
ment characteristics as machine manu-
facturing tolerances.
finish hobbed gear profile accuracies
Keyseat'er
are directly related ,to manufactured hob
class accuracy, mounting accuracy on wi'th a
the hobbing machine and resharpening
,aCCUl',acy.
TypicaUy. a Class AA single thread
flull set
hob can. produce an ACMA Class 12
profile', a Class A hob can produce an
AGMA Class 11 profile, and a Class B
oft'oeth.
The unique multi-tooth blade of the
hob can produce an AGMA Class 10 Davis Keyseater bites like no one-tooth
profile in 10· to 20· PD gears. 3 DP to keyseater can. It cuts keyways and slots
faster and puts the bite on set-up time
20 DP (F~. 6). This assumes a hob with and costs.
adequate gashes, correctly resharpened
to the tolerartcerequlrements for its ac-
Our machine won' chew hoIeI
in your budget.
curacy class (Figs. 7 and 8) and correctly
mounted on the hob arbor in the hob- Call HanafOl'd for. ,.. cIemoft..
IItrIItion of the on., ~ ...... tMt
bing machine within the runour value eataupworkfMllerror •
tolerance for .its manufactured class
accuracy.
To determine the profil accuracy to
which a specific accuracy class hob can
produce, read the tol.erance value in
tenths from the AGMA Hob Standard
120.01 for the characteristic "Lead .... In
Any One Turn of Helix" (Fig. 7). The
value "Lead" .. In Any One Turn of
H:llit refers to the aceuraey to which the
hob manuacturer produces the thread of
the hob. It is the manufacturer's allowed
deviation along the generating helix of
the hob. It is the allowed wandering of
the cutting flanks of the hob in one
CIRClf A-1S, ON READER REPLY CARD
5eptember/'October 1987' 3,'
 Fig.. 4 - The unwound
generating helix ofa 12 gash
single thread hob, shown here,
displays a deviation of the
cutting edges (dolled line =
thread lead error) from the
nominal (solid straight line).

,, I I I
I , 1 I I , I , I
1-11

, ,
i I, i
I
I , , {I" 1
i
I
, :}iI. 'f
,
'fI<
,
:
, ,
hi
l
I f'.", It \ I ,,
I
Fig. 7 - Single- Thread Coarse-Pitch Gear Hob
Tolerances' (In ten thousandths olan inch)
I ~ 1\
, 1 ~ I T .r I
,

I
CII
'CII 1 2
NORMAL OIAMETRAL PlTCH:~
3 II 5, 6 9 13
,

, l~ ,
, .
I
,
,
HobElemen!
:5 Thru Thru Thru lhru Thru Thru, Till'!! Ttlru I
11 '1.1 1.99 2.99 3.99 U9 5,:9,9' 8.99 12.99 119';99,
, , [I: ! Rg. 5 - Profile error
! I ','I
I i 'I
:
produced by RUNOIJTl
I

, ! [ , ! i I ! manufactured devia- AI.

A
-8 -5
2
2
2
2
2:
2
1
2
1
2
1
2
tions of the hob 4 2 2

" "
HubFlQe B 10 8 3 3
I I I
I I t
I
generating helix C 10 8 ill, .3, 3 2 2
5,
! V I
,
i I
,,
(thread). 0
AA
...
1'0
-
S
_. 2
5
2:
4
2
3,
4
11
3
1
3
1
.2'
!
I
,,'1
,l'
I':;'~ ,. 1,1

'l'i11 ;,,1
I I
Hul! Diameter a
C
10
1:2'
12
5
a,
II
"
'Ii,
,6,
3
5,
5
4
4-
3
4
4
2
3
3
2"
.2
'11 I _~ I
'J ' I) 15 10 8 8 '6, 6 5 .5
1 , , ,I I ! ! AA
A
-
30
-
20
5
15,
,4,
115,
3
10'
3
10
3
10
:1
10
Outside
Diameter
a 40 30 25 20 15 15 15 110
C 50 45 40 .25 20 17 17 12
Fig. 6 - Single thread hob error in 0' 60 55 'so 45 35 35 30 25
one turn of the helix rela tive to L£ADl
hob class accuracy required to
produce involute to AGMA 10
liiId'h,lo
AA
A
-
1
-5 4
4-
3
3
2
2
1.7
2:
11.1
2
1.7
2
I
and AGMA ]2 tolerances for 10' ToottI, B 110 8 Ii 4 3 3 3 3
to 2.0- pilch diameter gears. 'C
'0
15,
25
12
20
8
1'6
'6,
114
5,
112
4
1'0
4
10 "
8 I

AA
A
- - II '6 .. 3 3
..6,
2:
I

I", Any ,0"1'

25 18 10' II 'S, 5 5
SINGLE THREAD' HOB ERROR 1I11n oIlMelix: B 35 25 17 11 '9' '1 1
ONE TURN OF THE HEUX C 45 35 22· 14 1 l' 9 9 8
D 60 SO 40' 30 25 20 20 111
AA - - 12'
15
'91
12
'6 5 5
II
...
'1
IDP' In,MyTh,.
1IImlolli,1i1t "
B
C
38
53
70
26
38
50
22'
301
1,6:
211
9'
12:
16
11
U
8
10
13
9
112'
0 120 100 eo' 60 SO, iIIO 35 25
IlFOOTH i
AA
A
-
10
-5 .2
3
2
:1
".1
2'
1:.7
2
1.7
2
1.7
2 I
Pressure 3
,Ang!e"'"
IB 16 II 5 5 4- 3 3 ,

C 2S 15 10, S 4 3 3 3 I
0 ,80' 55 30 18 1'2 ,I!, ,8 6

I
Thlckn ..
AA
A
-
:30' 20
- 15
15
15
15
10
10
10
10'
10'
10'
10
10
,(minus onlyl
a :30 201 15 15 10 110' 101 10
e 3S, 25 211 .20 1'5, 115 15 1S I
40
10 35, 30 25 20 2.0 201 20 I
Start o.f
M
A 200
,-
18:0'
- 1000
160
80
140,
70 60' liD
80
40 I
60
Till! R.elief 120' "00' illO
Modlflcatlon, B 220' 200 180 1M 140 120' 100
,C 180 1201 80 I
(ptul or ,minuI) 10 220' 200' 160' 140 100
260' 240 220 200 1!80 "60 1i110' 120 'I
Symmetrytn
AA
A
.-
150'
' .....'

130
10
120,
'801
'100'
50'
1901
40
80
40
80 ~5 50 !I
Start of
a 180' 150 130, 120' 100' 90 80 70
.1iA ,Ralie'
I M'odificatiOll e
,ID
180'
2,00
150
180
130'
1'60
120' 100'
1<1t1' 1'20
90
no,
80
100 ~J 1
 Fig. II- Single- Thread Coarse-Pi tch Gear Hob

---
Rg. 9 - AGMA 390.03· coarse pitch involute gear tolerance It ble :£orAGMA
Tolerances' (In ten thousandths or an indtl quality levels B through 12. Reprinted by permission of lhe AGMA. Ailing-
....... DlAMETRALPn'CIt' Ion. VA .

! 1
nvu
1.•
2 3
TIwu TIvu
4
nvu
4.99
• ....• •
TIwu TIwu TIwu TIwu·
5." ,2... ,....
13 I

[AGMA
PROFIU TOLIRANCI

-
2.11 3." NORMAL
"TCH OIAMETER tlttCMISI

..,..
OIAutTRAL
!FUnD ~ALITY

,.
UMIlR "TCH
- 30- • • • ~ •
..,
., ..........
AI. 20 15 10 lit 1\1 Jl ID 1- :-

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FIuIt
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40
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'12 "
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,. ,.
50 40 30 20 15 10 JLJ all :a.J at
a ,....
C 50
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45
10
40
50
30
50
20
30
15 15 10
• .,.. ,.0 r.u ao I*U
"..
I. ... .. .. ... ,..
D 21 25 20 4 1:1.1 'U IL'I
M - - CO 35 25 11
I,• U U IL'I " ""
'u ' • .1 ,1.1 'U tI.J 21.
, ".. .,., .....
..
Io...L .~ A 10 10 50 40 30 30 30 25 I. 10.' 'U 'U I ....
• '.0 U

."
to
•

.... ..
100 10 10 50 50 50
~-1pedngI
c
D
100
120
10to
120 100 100 10
10 40
10
50
10
50 50
10
40 I

,
'12
1.1 U
....
u
" ••
Sf. .1.2 I...
14.'

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2G.2 22.1 2U a' JU • 7
M - 10- I 3 5
.. , .a,
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1

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17.1 ,U .u
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50 25 15 10 7 5 7 u u u .. 2 • tA ,1.1
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I
CUTTING FACE WIDTH In Inc:hee

e:.':. "• • M 10 15,.

lJDeo1 1.001eo2 2.001 eo4 4.001eo 7 7.001&",
20 20
,
'1'1

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10'
2"
.....
au

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.. . .. .. .. .. ... ""..
10
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25
25
30
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50
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C 10 15 25 30 50
D 15 23 31 75
'2 U •• ••
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•
... .. . ....
HaLl HOlE DIAIIETER In .....
2t U .. •• IU IA 1.1 L'
,
,,
'17 •1.1 If .. 11.1 :

=~ == ...
.".., ... ,. " ....., ......
.u IIU ,u n
...I '11 i...,
2.500 2.000 1.500 1.250 0.750
M -• -• -5 2 2 2 II
• ... 1.1
u
U U &,
,So'
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2.1 U 11 n u u U IA U

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,u 'IA IU IU IJ" IIU

NCI1E, 1. TOW'-O!:H ~
3. Tc!bI ~.
".lbd!llr¥!I!II
·0«!I0j!1O·1IMdard li'oob Ia",
2.IFQjf eoml:!inillion pAd> !101M. '!be C«*Mf oIlbe t¥oo ~.1I!d
wlNt!!:!q.
Top~ llDUiflalion.
~ n
•
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1ft. I ...,

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(DI'O,I'Ik,j·lQQlh I~
In4tI~
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f.O :u
••
II
10
U
U
I.'
II
II
U
U
:1.1
U
U
"I

If you're ad esigner or 0 EM search ingto r

Ilarge spiral bevel gear sets that are ,equal
to the task at hand, Amarillo Gear
Companyc8n help.
When it's required, Amarillo Gear can
case-harden its spiral bevel gears and
then hard-cut them to AGMA qua'iity level
10 tolerances with a 16 RMSsurface finish.
When job conditions are less demanding,
Amarillo Gear can design and produce a
more economical gear that measures up
to your exact need.
Quiet and dependable, their quality
r,eflectsAmarillo Gear's 35 years excenenee
manufacturing spiral bevel gears.
Call Amarillo Gear Company. You'll tind
om work more than equal to you r production
requirements and custom applications.
Spl",' 8 ... , G•• ,. Up,to fOO" m m. ,

-
.
,
Vis II! us at ,
,
Booth ~530.

AMARLLD ·GEAiFI OO\.IIPANY

A MeMBER OFTHf MARMON GROUP OF COMPAMES
POBOX 1189\ AMAflJI.1.O, TEXAS 79105
806/622,1273
TWX 1I10c898-4128 Amlld"",

CiRClE A-2: 'ON READER REPLVCAIRO

September/October 11987 411
enveloping revolution of the hob.
By comparing the lead tolerance in any
one tum of the helix for a specific hob
to the AGMA 390.03 profile tolerance
table for gears (Fig. 9) it can be predeter-
mined whether or not a particular pro-
file tolerance can be finish hobbed,
The EUect of Hob
Mounting Enors
Even if a hob is hypothetically perfect
and manufactured error-free, it can pro-
duoe profile errors if mounted eeeen-
trically on the hob bing machine arbor.
Hob runout error due to either careless
mounting or to improper sharpening is
the greatest contributor to poor hobbed
involute profiles. Figs. 10, Hand 12 il-
lustrate the eHectsthree types of hob
runout have upon the gear tooth form.
These effects are created most often by:
1. Failure to true up the hob arbor
2. Failureto true up the hob on the
hob arbor by indicating the hubs
on the ends of the hob
3. Bent hob arbor
4. Oversize hob bore or undersize
hob arbor
S. Non-parallel hob damping
spacers
6. Misaligned or worn outboard
support bearing for hob arbor.
Often hob runout error is introduced
at the first hob resharpening. If a hob is
mounted carelessly - that is, without
truing - on the sharpening arbor, runout
can be sharpened into the hob by
sharpening off progressively greater
amounts of material from the hob gashes
for ha]f i,ts rotation. The sources of this
error in the sharpener are similar to those
in the hobber,
In some precision gear manufacturing
shops, the hob is sharpened on the hob
arbor after careful alignment to insure
optimum gear tooth profile accuracy.
The Effect of Hob
Resharpening Er.rors
Fig. 13 illustrates the effects hob
sharpeningerrors have on the basic rack
profile of the hob and the resultant
workpiece tooth profile. Figs. 14, IS, 16
and 17 illustrate diagrammatically typical
resulting involute profiles. Figs. 9'
thr.ough 11 illustrate the effects three
types of hob runout have upon the in-
volute profile due to careless mounting,
Careless mounting of the hobs on the
sharpening arbor can introduce the same
error. A hob mounted on a bent resharp-
ening arbor, for example, will be
resharpened eccentrically, int:roducing
the same error even if the hob is mounted
concentrically on the hob bing machine
arbor in the machine. Apart from runout
errors fOUI other errors can be introduced
at the time of resharpening:
1. The hob cutting faces sharpened
with incorrect lead
(Fig.. 14)

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TAI·ORDINATE 'CORPOR'ATION

See US at the:
AGMA GEAR EXPO
October 4tlr6th

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HOGLUND TRI-ORDINA TE CORP. 343 SNYDER AVE, BERKElEY HTS. N.]. 07922 (20.1) '164-02.00: TWX710-984-i965 FAX #201.-464-0.149

CIRC'I.E A.-33 ON IREA.CER iR~PLYCARD

42 'Gear Technology
 -,,~"- _'-~I -'-$$
-~,~ '~ 'IhtI~i'.!ln.gI.'c:hI!ii'!tfti
Can1H'HJOU.ty •• 'Ih. 'hob fI. rot_tid Yinova .tfactJ 01 nJnom
II.......
-.ofI'_oI'lVI'IOIl! m"JI'Ioothfcinft.
Oi' a-rJoc;Ift kInft.

Fig" 10 - Effect of unifonn hob runout on hobbed profile. Fig. 12 - EHect of runout 011 one side of ,the hob only.

'Runoul onl!lel'lll!MoI

-
hob 1,80'

-
apa!'I.L1J ~
".
.'
- .-
iIIl
-,'
-' ••

_@,-'1I>oIh
7 ...
.
:
.
_..
\. ."
-

v..-_""_
on..,'I!IxI!ItIbm..

FIg. lJ- Effud o.fhob res.hMpming errol'S on the bobbed tooth profile relative
Fla. 11- Effect ,of runout on each side of hob, ISO" apart. to the basic rack profile of the hob.

september/OCtober 1981 43:

 Sharpening error:-
C~lIingtl<:. gr""rd'"ith i""orr..,t '.(1.

COl'''<._ .... h_~

·-..·~--"""'W
ApproJi. ~
lUll' Ml;h Otgr~
"'IRA..
g4' dr,..
.4"+hotI-1-drlg 0"4 ~infiA.
Ii!

2O"1'ICb-"'d!raV""QI'$ ~"PA

"g_ 1.4- Effect of hob flute lead error. Since the hob is a reducing cylinder,
incorrect Flute lead resharpening destroys the integrity of the hob cylinder
end to end, typically causing changes in workpiece size as the hob is shifted
across its length.

s _
Fig. 16- Effect of positive rake resharpening error on profile.
'C!if~tlk .. ,
eo".." Ol"';ng, lOgo

ShM'pen'ng .....or:-
,~ ,..... -UMql.i.~...-c..s.
;:·F;i,==O!j!==~ __ ri

~ Ifi,. d'tIi'IOI'otPA.
,'ongl Uwcuttl"g,~,.

-~-~'~,
~_'tod/kNmy
',' . ','

Apprm.
I':or uch
CN!'!ogIIln IPA
o.gr.. of hook.
1'4~~~hob -1- hgok, = '0·",' Ch"'Q!Ii""
20~ hob_'ID hoo!I;,~ D~!5,~'fnPA
RA.
-"""'-
I!ooulUng_

I!PKtnQl til too.-:t..

1_-

Fig. 1.5-, ffiect of negative rake resharpening error on profile. Fig. 17 - Effect of accumulated flute spacing error on profile.

44 Gear Technology
 I~, nO.rwa,hNand " ••
~ ... , atK!' l\OR .. cjjKenl
FhsiI' jpIC~n~1

_ s.. a!lJChtod •• lIibit

1'00"cl ..fOCI I,,,,,

I~Jcm Ino. 00.'",

hub, ([iI!m.t.r !'Unout

RUlE NO. I(N], MEASIIREMENT CORRECTION AN FIN

! +.0004 -.00<12 .. 0002 +0002
Fig. l8-Hob diameter ru.nout inspection check. '2' 0 - 0002 -0002 10
3 +.0004 -.0002 +,10002
1

".0002
+.0001 -0001 -.0001
'.
5
I
+.0002
-.0001
-.~2
-.0002
0
- 0003
+000'
+.0001
-.00<12
7 +,0006 - 0002' .. 'OOOA .. 0002
I 0 - '00<12 -0002 01

eo...ct" •..,val...... 'II<,",01..... ..,1'*<1 ,errors dlYldMlII¥ lotal' nu_

olIlYlft.

llull ........ ,mum cw... liorllb!t!wHn aft)' two ~J nu_ Fnlm

abov.: 'ruN ~ crw.. bon 01- 0003 and +.0004
lul'i!~!oOo7 - - ---- - - ---
In~ M.'1wo I~
hUb liKe INnOli1
IA(N,+-':]" An" "(N"'l
Noc.:Tb .. ,_II .... '11M, ja.l'l'ClL...... !ue 01 FIN '!or ..... _.
",. dIre, .... ' .. I,.. .. _~ ...I
... !ueI, 01AN. IFfOn'Ia bon I'lH" dW_
ti,.
mo,m"m daYia!_ "-_ ,..".two
01+.0002 ..... -.'0002'
I'tl!! ,= 0004

Fig. 1'9- Hob damping face runout inspection check. Fig. 22 - Hob adjacent and non-adjacent nutt spacing, check,

1l"~_'1IbJ
, _ IMdwror

Rg. 2J-Hcib flute lead error inspection ch«k.

R. 10 - Hob outside diameter inspection check,

~no.b!lr:..
,.g,-

r
Fig, 21- Hob rut to cutting depth inspection check. Rg.24, - Hob chedcing unit.
 2. The hob cutting faces sharpened wheel. also causing unequal flute checks can be performed on bench
with negative rake spacing. centers or with a hob checking unitsuch
(Fig. IS) as shown in Fig. 24.
Inspecting the
3. The hob cutting faces sharpened Resharpened Hob Reprinted with permission of the American Gear
with positive rake Figs. 18 through 23 illustrate the six Manufacturers Association.
The opinions. stQtement5 ana' conclusions pre-
{fig. 16) basic checks which can be performed to sented in this article art those of the authors ,Ima'
insure that the hob resharpening con- in no way represent the position or opinion of the
4. The hob cutting faces sharpened forms to the tolerance level of the hob AMERiCAN GEAR MANUFACTURERS ASSOC-
with unequal spacing purchased class accuracy. These simple IATION.
(Fig. 17).

Fig. 14 shows the effect of sharpening

the reducing cylinder of a straight fluted
hob with a lead error. This occurs often
in older hob sharpeners with misaligned
I NILES GEAR GRINDER
centers .. Because the hob is a reducing
cylinder, sharpening more off one end of
___ODEL:,ZSTZ63003, IN Sme,l!
the hob than the other results in 3. tapered
hob. As the hob is shifted across its
usable life in the hob bing machine, a
change in the size of the workpieoes will
be evident, Often this error is assigned
Ito the hobbing machine and valuable
production hobs are wasted while main-
tenance crews attempt to find the source'
of the error.
The same error can exist in helically
fluted hobs. Wear of the sine bar or
misaligned centers contribute to this off
lead problem.
figs, 15 and 16 show two common re-
sharpening errors on radial rake designed
hobs - positive and negative rake. The
effect of positive or negativera.ke
sharpening on a radial rake designed hob
is a change in the pressure angle of the
basic rack form of the hob. This pro-
duces either a lesser or greater pressure
3!-"gleon the gear tooth, which can result
in excessive gear wear, gear noise and
shock loading.
Some hobs are deliberately designed SPiECIFICATIONS:
with hook (positive rake) or with Out8'Id'ediameter, max •.••. In'. 29.S Maximum hellix ang,le •. deg.45
negative rake and must be sharpened Root ,circle diameter, min .• ,In'. 2 Stroke !length ..••••••• In.- 1.9
INum'ber,ofteeth, max •.••. # 140 Double ram strokes
accordingly to prevent the introduction
INumber of teeth,. min. ." ... # 112 (Infinite' y var., ..... 1/mln. 7~315
of pressure angle errors. IDlmaeVal pitCh,. Imln ...••..• D'.R 112.1 Maximum table load •• lib,. 880 1

Fig. 17 illustrates the condition of un- IDlametra) pitch •.Imax ......•• C.R 2.12 Ta'bl. !bore •••••••• ,," lin'. 3.5
equally sharpened hob flutes. resulting in
unequal spacing of the cutting edge posi-
tions relative to the thread helix. Due to WM:W Madllnery" Ilnc- Mld-West Office
the flank or cam relief on the hobs, un- 570 Bradley IHIII Road 1665 Tonne Road
equally spaced flutes will cut either high SIIIiIveH, NY 10913 Elk. Grove Village, IlL 60007
or Ibw from the nomina] enveloping Phone (91!4) 358 ..3330 IPhone' (3,1,2),364-4530
helix, producing a "wandering" profile.
UsuaUy worn :index plates or worn
pawls are the source of this problem. Ex- See WMW:NILES gear eqUipment at 7. EMO, Milan, Italy.
cessive stock removal during the October 14·22, 1987.
resharpening can crowd the grinding
CI'ROLE A-12 ON READ.ER REPLY CARD
46 Gear Technolog,y