The present application discloses a method for calibrating a measuring probe in a gear cutting machine by using a workpiece received in a workpiece holder of the gear cutting machine, wherein the measuring probe includes a measuring probe tip which is movably arranged on a measuring probe base, wherein the deflection of the measuring probe tip relative the measuring probe base can be determined via at least one sensor of the measuring probe, and wherein the measuring probe is traversable relative to the workpiece holder via at least two axes of movement of the gear cutting machine. The method comprises rotating the workpiece via an axis of rotation of the workpiece holder and traversing the measuring probe via the at least two axes of movement of the gear cutting machine such that in the case of a perfect calibration the touch point of the measuring probe tip on the tooth flank would remain unchanged.

A method directed to gear cutting tools and gear cutter job consolidation resulting in a single cutter capable of cutting a plurality of different members of a part family. The method comprises a multi-step approach comprising a first step of defining a temporary master. A second step creates a virtual master which is especially well-suited for accommodating the requirements of the jobs in the consolidation variety. A third step determines cutting depths and optimized machine settings for all consolidation jobs using the virtual master.

A method directed to gear cutting tools and gear cutter job consolidation resulting in a single cutter capable of cutting a plurality of different members of a part family. The method comprises a multi-step approach comprising a first step of defining a temporary master. A second step creates a virtual master which is especially well-suited for accommodating the requirements of the jobs in the consolidation variety. A third step determines cutting depths and optimized machine settings for all consolidation jobs using the virtual master.

A machining method for forming an opening through a workpiece, serving as a green compact, by moving a milling tool in a radial direction relative to the workpiece is provided. Among inner wall surfaces defining the opening, respective cut surfaces, cut by cutting edges on an outer periphery of the milling tool, are defined as a first sidewall surface and a second sidewall surface that is opposite the first sidewall surface. A side from which the milling tool enters is defined as an outer circumferential surface of the workpiece, and a surface opposite to the outer circumferential surface is defined as an inner circumferential surface of the workpiece. A corner where the first sidewall surface or the second sidewall surface and the outer circumferential surface meet is defined as an obtuse angle corner, and a corner where the first sidewall surface or the second sidewall surface and the inner circumferential surface meet is defined as an acute angle corner. The milling tool includes a first milling tool and a second milling tool. The method includes a pre-machining step of using the first milling tool, and forming the first sidewall surface by rotating the first milling tool so as to cause cutting edges of the first milling tool to cut the workpiece from the acute angle corner to the obtuse angle corner, while leaving a cutting allowance on the second sidewall surface; and a post-machining step of using the second milling tool whose cutting edges are reversed from the cutting edges of the first milling tool, and forming the second sidewall surface by rotating the second milling tool so as to cause the cutting edges of the second milling tool to cut the cutting allowance from the acute angle corner to the obtuse angle corner.

A machining method for forming an opening through a workpiece, serving as a green compact, by moving a milling tool in a radial direction relative to the workpiece is provided. Among inner wall surfaces defining the opening, respective cut surfaces, cut by cutting edges on an outer periphery of the milling tool, are defined as a first sidewall surface and a second sidewall surface that is opposite the first sidewall surface. A side from which the milling tool enters is defined as an outer circumferential surface of the workpiece, and a surface opposite to the outer circumferential surface is defined as an inner circumferential surface of the workpiece. A corner where the first sidewall surface or the second sidewall surface and the outer circumferential surface meet is defined as an obtuse angle corner, and a corner where the first sidewall surface or the second sidewall surface and the inner circumferential surface meet is defined as an acute angle corner. The milling tool includes a first milling tool and a second milling tool. The method includes a pre-machining step of using the first milling tool, and forming the first sidewall surface by rotating the first milling tool so as to cause cutting edges of the first milling tool to cut the workpiece from the acute angle corner to the obtuse angle corner, while leaving a cutting allowance on the second sidewall surface; and a post-machining step of using the second milling tool whose cutting edges are reversed from the cutting edges of the first milling tool, and forming the second sidewall surface by rotating the second milling tool so as to cause the cutting edges of the second milling tool to cut the cutting allowance from the acute angle corner to the obtuse angle corner.

A method for manufacturing a rack bar includes joining axial end portions of first and second bar members to each other, and forming a power transmission section on the second bar member. The first bar member has a toothed portion. When the second bar member is hollow, the method may further include thickening a wall of a portion of the second bar member along the axial direction so as to be coaxial with the first bar member. When the second bar member has a greater diameter than the first bar member, the method may further include cutting an outside diameter of a portion of the second bar member in the axial direction so as to be coaxial with the first bar member. The power transmission section is formed on the portion of the second bar member where the wall has been thickened and/or the outside diameter has been cut.

A method for manufacturing a rack bar includes joining axial end portions of first and second bar members to each other, and forming a power transmission section on the second bar member. The first bar member has a toothed portion. When the second bar member is hollow, the method may further include thickening a wall of a portion of the second bar member along the axial direction so as to be coaxial with the first bar member. When the second bar member has a greater diameter than the first bar member, the method may further include cutting an outside diameter of a portion of the second bar member in the axial direction so as to be coaxial with the first bar member. The power transmission section is formed on the portion of the second bar member where the wall has been thickened and/or the outside diameter has been cut.

A machine tool that generates internal teeth or external teeth on a cylindrical workpiece includes a workpiece holder, a column which is relatively movable to the workpiece holder, a rotary main spindle which is rotatable with respect to the column, a working tool which is held by the rotary main spindle, and a phase detecting unit which detects a phase of the working tool with respect to the rotary main spindle. The working tool includes a cutter portion which has cutters, a holder portion, and a detected portion which is formed on the holder portion. The phase detecting unit includes a detecting section which detects the detected portion, and a calculating section which calculates a phase angle of the detected portion with respect to a reference position of the rotary main spindle, based on a result detected by the detecting section.

A machine tool that generates internal teeth or external teeth on a cylindrical workpiece includes a workpiece holder, a column which is relatively movable to the workpiece holder, a rotary main spindle which is rotatable with respect to the column, a working tool which is held by the rotary main spindle, and a phase detecting unit which detects a phase of the working tool with respect to the rotary main spindle. The working tool includes a cutter portion which has cutters, a holder portion, and a detected portion which is formed on the holder portion. The phase detecting unit includes a detecting section which detects the detected portion, and a calculating section which calculates a phase angle of the detected portion with respect to a reference position of the rotary main spindle, based on a result detected by the detecting section.

A combined gear cutting apparatus includes a workpiece drive portion, a first processing portion holding and moving a first tool to a processing position for a workpiece, a second processing portion holding and moving a second tool to a processing position for the workpiece, and a control portion which includes a storage portion storing workpiece information indicating a configuration of the workpiece before first processing is performed, first tool information, second tool information and relative position information. The control portion includes a tooth groove configuration calculation portion calculating tooth groove configuration information of the workpiece based on the first tool information, the workpiece information and the relative position information obtained when the first processing is completed. The second tool is configured to move to a start position of second processing for the workpiece based on the tooth groove configuration information, the second tool information and the relative position information.