A method for providing teeth on working gears by cutting, wherein the working gear and the cutting tool are driven in rotation at a predetermined speed ratio along axes oriented at an intersection angle. The flanks of the cutting teeth form edges having flank cutting sections arranged on the edges of a gap between two adjacent teeth and extend along a first contour line, and which as a result of an advance in the direction of the working gear engage in a cutting manner to produce teeth having a flank contour predetermined by the shape of the cutting edge. Each of the flank cutting sections is adjoined by a tip cutting section which extends along a second contour line in the region of the base of the cutting tooth gap, wherein the second contour line is curved such that at least partially rounded tooth tips are produced on the teeth.

A method for providing teeth on working gears by cutting, wherein the working gear and the cutting tool are driven in rotation at a predetermined speed ratio along axes oriented at an intersection angle. The flanks of the cutting teeth form edges having flank cutting sections arranged on the edges of a gap between two adjacent teeth and extend along a first contour line, and which as a result of an advance in the direction of the working gear engage in a cutting manner to produce teeth having a flank contour predetermined by the shape of the cutting edge. Each of the flank cutting sections is adjoined by a tip cutting section which extends along a second contour line in the region of the base of the cutting tooth gap, wherein the second contour line is curved such that at least partially rounded tooth tips are produced on the teeth.

A method for providing teeth on working gears by cutting, wherein the working gear and the cutting tool are driven in rotation at a predetermined speed ratio along axes oriented at an intersection angle. The flanks of the cutting teeth form edges having flank cutting sections arranged on the edges of a gap between two adjacent teeth and extend along a first contour line, and which as a result of an advance in the direction of the working gear engage in a cutting manner to produce teeth having a flank contour predetermined by the shape of the cutting edge. Each of the flank cutting sections is adjoined by a tip cutting section which extends along a second contour line in the region of the base of the cutting tooth gap, wherein the second contour line is curved such that at least partially rounded tooth tips are produced on the teeth.

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 method for providing teeth on working gears by cutting, wherein the working gear and the cutting tool are driven in rotation at a predetermined speed ratio along axes oriented at an intersection angle. The flanks of the cutting teeth form edges having flank cutting sections arranged on the edges of a gap between two adjacent teeth and extend along a first contour line, and which as a result of an advance in the direction of the working gear engage in a cutting manner to produce teeth having a flank contour predetermined by the shape of the cutting edge. Each of the flank cutting sections is adjoined by a tip cutting section which extends along a second contour line in the region of the base of the cutting tooth gap, wherein the second contour line is curved such that at least partially rounded tooth tips are produced on the teeth.

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.

The inventive device includes a work supporting portion for supporting a work rotatably about a first axis, a cutter supporting portion for supporting a cutter rotatably about a second axis different from the first axis and a moving portion for moving the cutter along a reference line extending through the first axis. The second axis is slanted relative to a reference plane oriented perpendicular to the first axis and a blade edge of the cutter is caused to come into contact with the work at an offset position offset from the reference line. The work and the cutter are driven in synchronism and the cutter is moved along the reference line.