This gear cutting machine, which is equipped with a cutter (15), a cutter spindle motor (11) that causes, via a crank mechanism (13) and a cutter spindle (16), the cutter (15) perform a stroke operation, and a motor control unit (10) that controls the rotation angle of the cutter spindle motor (11), is provided with a relieving spindle motor (12) that causes the cutter (15) to move in the direction of a relieving spindle via a link mechanism (four-joint link mechanism (14)). The motor control unit (10) controls the rotation angle of the relieving spindle motor (12) on the basis of the rotation angle of the cutter spindle motor (11). Consequently, a gear cutting machine that accurately controls the relieving operation in accordance with a desired shape, such as crowning and tapering of a gear to be cut can be provided.

By combining shaping and milling actions, or smilling, the cutting tool can move through the entire usable portion of the spline and machine a tool relief into the face of the adjacent feature such as a shoulder before retracting, reversing direction, and repeating the cycle. The smilling apparatus and manufacturing method eliminates the need for an annular spline relief and the full length of spline engagement can be utilized for strength. The effective width of the spline connection apparatus manufactured by the smilling process conserves space and increases the load carrying capability of the spline connection.

By combining shaping and milling actions, or smilling, the cutting tool can move through the entire usable portion of the spline and machine a tool relief into the face of the adjacent feature such as a shoulder before retracting, reversing direction, and repeating the cycle. The smilling apparatus and manufacturing method eliminates the need for an annular spline relief and the full length of spline engagement can be utilized for strength. The effective width of the spline connection apparatus manufactured by the smilling process conserves space and increases the load carrying capability of the spline connection.

A cylindrical cutting tool for processing splines formed on an outer circumference of a shaft member to extend in an axial direction includes blade portions which are formed in a spline shape on an inner circumference. The blade portions include: a first blade portion which is formed in a terminal end portion in a first direction along the axial direction and which is directed substantially toward the first direction; and a second blade portion which is formed in a terminal end portion in a second direction along the axial direction and opposite to the first direction and which is directed substantially toward the second direction.

A cylindrical cutting tool for processing splines formed on an outer circumference of a shaft member to extend in an axial direction includes blade portions which are formed in a spline shape on an inner circumference. The blade portions include: a first blade portion which is formed in a terminal end portion in a first direction along the axial direction and which is directed substantially toward the first direction; and a second blade portion which is formed in a terminal end portion in a second direction along the axial direction and opposite to the first direction and which is directed substantially toward the second direction.

A gear machining apparatus causes a machining tool and a workpiece to rotate at a high speed in synchronization with each other to machine a highly accurate gear through cutting. The machining tool is manufactured such that each of pitches between tool blades of the machining tool is an integer multiple of a pitch between teeth of the gear, the integer multiple being equal to or larger than double. By using the machining tool for cutting performed by the gear machining apparatus, the number of the tool blades of the machining tool, which are brought into contact with the workpiece at the same time, is reduced. Thus, it is possible to suppress occurrence of self-excited vibrations during cutting by reducing the cutting resistance. Thus, it is possible to enhance the tooth trace accuracy of the gear.

The invention relates to a method for gear shaping a periodic structure, in particular a toothing on a workpiece, in which method the workpiece, continuously rotating about its axis of rotation, is brought into material-removing machining engagement with a toothed shaping tool which rotates about its axis of rotation in rolling contact with the workpiece rotation. After a working stroke, the shaping tool is lifted off from the workpiece in a lifting direction and, after a subsequent return stroke, the shaping tool in the lifted state is returned to the workpiece again for the next working stroke. In the return stroke, a deflection movement of the shaping tool away from the incoming flank of the workpiece and transversely to the lifting direction is superimposed on the rolling contact.

The invention relates to a method for gear shaping a periodic structure, in particular a toothing on a workpiece, in which method the workpiece, continuously rotating about its axis of rotation, is brought into material-removing machining engagement with a toothed shaping tool which rotates about its axis of rotation in rolling contact with the workpiece rotation. After a working stroke, the shaping tool is lifted off from the workpiece in a lifting direction and, after a subsequent return stroke, the shaping tool in the lifted state is returned to the workpiece again for the next working stroke. In the return stroke, a deflection movement of the shaping tool away from the incoming flank of the workpiece and transversely to the lifting direction is superimposed on the rolling contact.

The invention relates to a method for producing or machining, by cutting, an identical set of teeth on each of a plurality of workpieces, in particular at least 4 workpieces, of a workpiece batch on one or more gear-cutting machines (100) having a gear-cutting tool (S), which has a set of teeth having rake faces (5) and having an axis of rotation (B1), in rolling machining engagement, in which method, in the event that a deviation of a set of teeth from the tooth profile sought for said set of teeth is detected or expected, a countermeasure that counteracts said deviation is determined and the production/machining of additional workpieces of said workpiece batch is continued using the countermeasure, the countermeasure being, at least in part, a change in the position of the rake faces relative to the axis of rotation of the tool, which change is brought about by means of grinding performed on the gear-cutting machine or at a grinding machine (140) that belongs to the machine group of the gear-cutting machine.

The invention relates to a method for producing or machining, by cutting, an identical set of teeth on each of a plurality of workpieces, in particular at least 4 workpieces, of a workpiece batch on one or more gear-cutting machines (100) having a gear-cutting tool (S), which has a set of teeth having rake faces (5) and having an axis of rotation (B1), in rolling machining engagement, in which method, in the event that a deviation of a set of teeth from the tooth profile sought for said set of teeth is detected or expected, a countermeasure that counteracts said deviation is determined and the production/machining of additional workpieces of said workpiece batch is continued using the countermeasure, the countermeasure being, at least in part, a change in the position of the rake faces relative to the axis of rotation of the tool, which change is brought about by means of grinding performed on the gear-cutting machine or at a grinding machine (140) that belongs to the machine group of the gear-cutting machine.