DEVICE AND METHOD FOR THE COLD-FORMING PROFILING OF WORKPIECES

Abstract

A method for profiling a profile body by cold forming a workpiece having a longitudinal axis and a cylindrical outer surface extended along the longitudinal axis. The workpiece carries out a rotation movement about the longitudinal axis and is machined by a tool in a multitude of successively executed reshaping engagements. The tool is held by a tool holder, to be rotatable about a tool axis. The tool holder is mounted in an orbiting body to be rotatable about a rotation axis, is driven into a rotation movement about its rotation axis, and is driven into an orbiting movement by the orbiting body. Rotation movement of the workpiece is synchronised with orbiting movement of the tool holder and rotation movement of the tool holder is synchronised with orbiting movement of the tool holder. The tool axis is different from the rotation axis.

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing a profile body which is provided with a profile by way of cold forming a workpiece which comprises a longitudinal axis and, in a machining region, an outer surface, into which the profiling is to be incorporated, wherein the workpiece carries out a rotation movement about the longitudinal axis and is machined by a first tool in a multitude of successively executed reshaping engagements in which the first tool comes into contact with the machining region, wherein the first tool is held by a first tool holder, and wherein the first tool holder: is mounted in an orbiting body to be rotatable about a rotation axis of the first tool holder and is driven into a rotation movement about the rotation axis, wherein the term azimuthal which is used hereinafter is defined by the rotation axis; and is driven into an orbiting movement by the orbiting body; and wherein the rotation movement of the workpiece is synchronised with the orbiting movement of the first tool holder; and the rotation movement of the first tool holder is synchronised with the orbiting movement of the first tool holder, and wherein the first tool is mounted, in particular freely rotatably mounted, in the first tool holder to be rotatable about a first tool axis which is different from the rotation axis, in particular wherein the first tool axis is spaced from the rotation axis.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the rotation movement of the workpiece is synchronised with the orbiting movement of the first tool holder such that at each of a number of different positions distributed over a circumference of the workpiece, several of the reshaping engagements take place; and the rotation movement of the first tool holder is synchronised with the orbiting movement of the first tool holder such that the first tool runs, for each of the reshaping engagements, through the same azimuthal orientations.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the orbiting body carries out a rotation about an orbiting body axis, and wherein the orbiting body axis and the rotation axis are aligned parallel to one another.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first tool comprises an active region which is rotationally symmetric with respect to the tool axis, in particular wherein the first tool is embodied as a roller.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the rotation movement of the tool holder is synchronised with the orbiting movement of the first tool holder by way of a planetary gear.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the planetary gear comprises a ring gear and a planet wheel which runs in the ring gear, wherein the planet wheel is part of the first tool holder and together with the first tool holder executes the rotation movement.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the workpiece is simultaneously machined by a second tool in a multitude of successively executed reshaping engagements in which the second tool comes into contact with the workpiece, in particular wherein each of the successively executed reshaping engagements of the second tool takes place at a position of the workpiece which lies opposite that position of the workpiece with respect to the longitudinal axis at which simultaneously a reshaping engagement of the first tool takes place; in particular wherein the first tool and the second tool are embodied as rollers.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the workpiece is additionally machined by a further tool in a multitude of successively executed reshaping engagements, in which the further tool comes into contact with the workpiece, in particular wherein a tool holder which holds the further tool carries out the same orbiting movement as the already mentioned tool holder, and wherein this further tool holder is identical to the already mentioned tool holder or is different to this; in particular wherein the first holder and the further tool are embodied as rollers.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the further holder is held by the same tool holder as the first tool, in particular wherein the further tool is mounted in the tool holder to be rotatable about a further tool axis which is different from the rotation axis and from the first tool axis, in particular wherein the further tool axis is azimuthally distanced to the first tool axis, and in particular wherein the first and the further tool axis and the rotation axis are aligned perpendicularly to a common plane.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein a second tool holder is provided, said second tool holder being different from the first tool holder, and by way of the second tool holder the further tool is rotatably held about a further tool axis, wherein the orbiting movements of the first and of the second tool holder describe the same orbiting path, in particular wherein the further tool is mounted in the second tool holder to be rotatable about a further tool axis which is different from a rotation axis of the second tool holder, and in particular wherein the first and the further tool axis and the rotation axis are aligned perpendicularly to a common plane.

11. A device for manufacturing a profile body which is provided with a profiling by way of cold forming a workpiece, wherein the device comprises: a workpiece holder which is rotatable about its longitudinal axis, for holding the workpiece; a drive device for producing a rotation movement of the workpiece holder about the longitudinal axis; an orbiting body; a first tool holder for holding a first tool, wherein the tool holder is mounted in the orbiting body to be rotatable about a rotation axis of the tool holder; a drive device for producing a rotation movement of the first tool holder about its rotation axis; a drive device for producing a movement of the orbiting body body, by way of which the first tool holder is drivable into an orbiting movement; a first synchronisation device for synchronising the rotation movement of the workpiece holder with the orbiting movement of the first tool holder; a second synchronisation device for synchronising the rotation movement of the first tool holder with the orbiting movement of the first tool holder; and wherein the first tool holder comprises a first rotation bearing for receiving the first tool, said first rotation bearing defining a first tool axis which is different from the rotation axis of the first tool holder, so that the first tool is rotatable, in particular freely rotatable, about the first tool axis.

12. The device according to claim 11, comprising the first tool, mounted in the first rotation bearing to be rotatable about the first tool axis, in particular wherein the first tool tool: comprises an active region which is rotationally symmetric with respect to the first tool axis; and/or is embodied as a roller.

13. The device according to claim 11, wherein the device comprises a drive device for producing a movement of the workpiece holder parallel to the longitudinal axis.

14. The device according to claim 11, comprising a planetary gear which is a constituent of the second synchronisation device and/or a constituent of the drive device for producing a rotation movement of the first tool holder about the rotation axis.

15. The device according to claim 11, wherein the orbiting body is mounted in a profiling head, and wherein the device comprises a drive for a movement of the profiling head towards the longitudinal axis.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0149] The subject-matter of the invention is hereinafter explained in more detail by way of embodiment examples and the accompanying drawings: There are shown schematically:

[0150] FIG. 1 a device for carrying out the method for the cold-forming profiling of a workpiece;

[0151] FIGS. 2A-2D successive phases of the method;

[0152] FIG. 3 a tool holder with a tool, in a section through its rotation axis and the tool axis;

[0153] FIG. 4 a detail of a planetary gear with a planet wheel according to FIG. 3;

[0154] FIG. 5 a detail of a device with two profiling heads, with a symbolised radial feed and axial advance;

[0155] FIG. 6A an orbiting path of a tool holder;

[0156] FIG. 6B a radial feed movement, symbolically;

[0157] FIG. 6C a trajectory of a tool holder, as a superposition of an orbiting movement and radial feed;

[0158] FIG. 7 a detail of a device with two profiling heads which each includes three tool holders each with two tools;

[0159] FIG. 8 a profile body with an outwardly projecting shoulder;

[0160] FIG. 9 a detail of a workpiece on an outer-profiled mandrel, in a section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;

[0161] FIG. 10 a workpiece with a conical machining region, in a section which contains the longitudinal axis;

[0162] FIG. 11 a workpiece with a polygonal outer surface, in a section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;

[0163] FIG. 12 a workpiece or a profile body with two axially distanced, radially outwardly directed profile delimitation structures, between which a profiling has been produced;

[0164] FIG. 13 a workpiece or a profile body with two axially distanced radially inwardly and outwardly directed profiling delimitation structures, between which a profiling has been produced;

[0165] FIG. 14 a workpiece and a profile body without a profiling delimitation structures;

[0166] FIG. 15 a workpiece with a non-rotationally symmetrically profiling delimitation structure, in a section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;

[0167] FIG. 16 a workpiece or a profile body with azimuthally non-uniformly distributed profile gaps, in a section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;

[0168] FIG. 17 a schematic illustration of the situation given a pivoted tool axis.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0169] Parts which are not essential for the understanding of the invention to some extent are not illustrated. The described embodiment examples are exemplary for the subject-matter of the invention or serve for its explanation and have no limiting effect.

[0170] FIG. 1 shows a device 100 for carrying out the method for the cold-forming profiling of a workpiece 1. The workpiece 1 is held in a workpiece holder 10 which is represented symbolically in FIG. 1 and has a longitudinal axis Z which is simultaneously also a longitudinal axis of the workpiece 1.

[0171] The workpiece 1 in the shown example includes a machining region 11 which is rotationally symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis Z and is with an outer surface 11a and is, by way of example, cylindric and in which a profiling is to be incorporated and onto which a second region 12 connects, in which second region the workpiece 1 has a larger diameter than in the machining region 11. By way of this, a profiling delimitation structure which is designed as a workpiece shoulder 13 is formed between the regions 11 and 12.

[0172] Furthermore, an orbiting body 8 which is represented symbolically in FIG. 1 is provided, said orbiting body executing a movement R8, specifically by way of it in the represented example rotating about an orbiting body axis which is not represented in FIG. 1 and thus carrying out the rotation R8. A tool holder 5 which due to the movement R8 of the orbiting body 8 carries out an orbiting movement R8 along an orbiting path U is mounted in the orbiting body 8.

[0173] The tool holder 5 includes a rotation axis W, about which it carries out a rotation movement R5. This rotation movement R5 can be generated for example in a direct manner by a drive (rotation drive) or however be derived from the movement R8 of the orbiting body 8, for example in a mechanical manner, for example by way of a planetary gear as will yet be described in more detail hereinafter.

[0174] The tool holder 5 holds at least one tool 2 which includes an active region 21, in which it comes into cold-forming contact with the workpiece 1, and specifically by way of it carrying out a movement during an engagement into the workpiece 1, said movement being described in more detail hereinafter. The tool 2 is mounted, in particular freely rotatably mounted in the tool holder 5, to be rotatable about a tool axis Q. The tool axis Q is not identical to the rotation axis W of the tool holder 5. By way of example, it can be aligned parallel to this and be distanced thereto.

[0175] The tool 2 can include a rotationally symmetrical (with respect to the tool axis Q) active region.

[0176] The tool 2 can be embodied, for example, as a roller.

[0177] Profile gaps in the workpiece 1 are produced by way of the tool 2, wherein the tool 2 executes a multitude of engagements per profile gap.

[0178] In order for the tool 2 to be able to engage into the workpiece 1 at different positions which are distributed over the circumference of the workpiece 1, the workpiece 1 can be driven into a rotation movement R1 about the longitudinal axis Z by way of the tool holder 10, in particular wherein the rotation movement R1 can be an intermittent rotation so that the tool engagement can each take place in a phase of the rotation standstill of the workpiece 1.

[0179] Furthermore, a drive for an axial advance of the workpiece 1 parallel to the longitudinal axis Z can be provided. By way of this, an advancing formation of the profiling along the longitudinal axis Z can be achieved.

[0180] Active connections for the purpose of the drive are represented in FIG. 1 by dashed lines and active connections for the purpose of synchronisation (which can be realised mechanically and/or electronically) by thickly dotted lines.

[0181] A drive device A1 for producing a rotation movement R1 of the workpiece holder 10 is provided, for example a torque motor or another rotation drive, and a drive device A8 for producing the movement R8 of the orbiting body 8. The drive device A8 can for example include a drive shaft.

[0182] And yet a drive device A5 is provided for producing the rotation moment R5 of the tool holder 5 about its rotation axis W is provided, as already specified above.

[0183] The rotation axis W is aligned parallel to the orbiting body axis. The orbiting movement R8 of the tool holder takes place in a plane, to which these axes are perpendicular. In the represented example, the longitudinal axis is aligned parallel to this plane.

[0184] The tool axis Q can be aligned parallel to the rotation axis W.

[0185] In order for the tool engagements to take place where profile gaps are to be produced, the workpiece rotation R1 and the orbiting movement R8 are synchronised with one another by way of a first synchronisation device Si, for example by way of the workpiece rotation R1 and the movement R8 of the orbiting body 8 being synchronised with one another by way of the first synchronisation device Si.

[0186] For example, the synchronisation can lie in the two movements (R1 and R8 or R8) having a temporally constant ratio of their orbiting times. For example, if only one tool 2 is provided and successive engagements of the tool 2 into the workpiece 1 are to be effected in each case into adjacent profile gaps, then T8/T1=z can be selected, with an orbiting time (period) T8 of the orbiting movement R8 of the tool holder 5 and an orbiting time (period) T1 of the workpiece, wherein z is the number of profile gaps to be produced.

[0187] This synchronisation can be realised for example by way of an electronic synchronisation device Si. Other synchronisation devices, for example mechanical ones however are also basically conceivable.

[0188] Furthermore, a second synchronisation device S5 is yet also provided, by way of which the rotation moment R5 of the tool holder 5 and the orbiting movement R8 of the tool holder 5 are synchronised with one another. This can be realised for example by way of an electronic synchronisation device, wherein this can then also be identical to the first synchronisation device Si. In the represented embodiment example, this synchronisation is realised mechanically, specifically by way of the already mentioned planetary gear.

[0189] In as much as this is concerned, the drive device A5 can be at least partly identical to the second synchronisation device S5, specifically by way of the planetary gear on the one hand generating the rotation movement R5 and on the other hand effecting the synchronisation between the rotation movement R5 and the orbiting moment R8.

[0190] By way of the synchronisation which is accomplished by the second synchronisation device S5, one can succeed in the tool axis Q assuming the same azimuthal alignment (with respect to the rotation axis W of the tool holder 5) during each engagement into the workpiece 1. This can be advantageous for example if the workpiece 1 as is represented in FIG. 1 includes an outwardly projecting workpiece shoulder 13 and the profiling is to be created up to close to this. This is explained in FIGS. 2A to 2D.

[0191] FIGS. 2A-2D illustrates consecutive phases of the method. Most reference numerals have already been explained above: p denotes an azimuthal position of the tool axis with respect to the rotation axis W or more precisely the corresponding azimuthal angle (measured in the anticlockwise direction). The following can be selected as reference axes for the azimuthal orientation for example, as is represented in FIGS. 2A-2D (and also in FIG. 4, see below): [0192] an axis which is aligned perpendicularly to the rotation axis W (represented dashed in FIGS. 2A-2D) and which runs through the middle of the active region 21 and through the rotation axis W; and [0193] an axis which is aligned perpendicularly to the rotation axis W (represented in a dotted manner in FIGS. 2A-2D) and which runs through the middle of the active region 21 and through the orbiting body axis.

[0194] FIG. 2A illustrates the situation shortly before the beginning of an engagement, where the tool 2 shortly thereupon comes into contact with the workpiece 1. The azimuthal angle ? in the illustrated example is roughly 317?, corresponding to ?43?.

[0195] FIG. 2B illustrates the situation roughly in the middle of the engagement. The azimuthal angle ? is a few degrees in the illustrated example.

[0196] FIG. 2C illustrates the situation shortly after the end of the engagement. The tool 2 is no longer in contact with the workpiece 1. The azimuthal angle ? in the illustrated example is roughly 40?

[0197] FIG. 2D illustrates the situation even later after the end of the engagement. The tool 2 then soon after moves beyond the workpiece shoulder 13. The azimuthal angle ? in the illustrated example is a good 70?.

[0198] By way of the second synchronisation device S5 one can succeed for example in the tool 2 coming into contact with the workpiece 1 and thus reshaping it in a hammering manner only in a small azimuthal angular region, which here for example is close to 0?, with each orbit.

[0199] Due to the superposition of the orbiting movement of the tool holder with the rotation movement of the tool holder about the rotation axis, one succeeds in the tool 2due to the tool axis and rotation axis not being identicalbeing in contact with the workpiece 1 only for a very short time and along an only very short section (for example measured parallel to the longitudinal axis Z).

[0200] One can therefore prevent the tool 2 from coming into (reshaping) contact with the workpiece shoulder 13but despite this the formation of the profile can take place up to close to the workpiece shoulder 13.

[0201] As can be simply recognised by way of FIG. 2A, the workpiece 1 at the end which is represented on the right, instead of ending there could include a further workpiece projection (represented dotted in FIG. 2A). In such a case, it is possible by way of the described method to produce the profiling between the two workpiece projections such that it extends to close to the respective workpiece projection.

[0202] FIG. 3 shows a tool holder 5 with a tool 2, in a section through its rotation axis W and through the tool axis Q. It includes (optionally) two planet wheels 45 whose axes are coaxial to the rotation axis W, and two bearing regions 2L for the rotatable mounting in the orbiting body 8 (see FIG. 1). The tool holder 5 can be designed as one piece or also of several pieces as is illustrated.

[0203] The tool holder 5 can for example includes a tool insert 2e (in FIG. 3 represented in a hatched manner for an improved recognisability), in which the tool 2 is mounted to be rotatable about the tool axis Q. For example, as is represented in FIG. 3, a roller as a tool 2 can be freely rotatably mounted there about the tool axis Q. For this purpose, the tool insert 22e can include a rotation bearing (not represented separately in the figure). The tool insert 2e can be fixedly connected to at least one further part of the tool holder 5, for example screwed to this.

[0204] The tool axis Q can be fixedly positioned in the tool holder 5 relative to the planet wheels 45.

[0205] FIG. 4 in a view upon a section perpendicular to the rotation axis W illustrates a detail of a planetary gear 40 of the device, for example including planet wheels 45 as are integrated in the tool holder 5 according to FIG. 3, of which however only one is visible in FIG. 4.

[0206] The planetary gear 40 includes a ring gear 41 with an axis 42 and apart from this can yet include a second ring gear which is not represented in FIG. 4 and in which the second planet wheel of the tool holder 5 runs.

[0207] The axis 46 of the planet wheel 45 is coaxial to the rotation axis W. And the orbiting body axis V (corresponding to the axis of the orbiting movement of the tool holder) is coaxial to the axis 42 of the ring gear 41.

[0208] By way of a suitable dimensioning of the planetary gear 40, for example one can ensure that the tool axes Q at a certain position along the orbiting path U (see FIG. 1) of the tool holder 5, for example where the engagement into the workpiece 1 is to be completed or where the engagement into the workpiece 1 is to begin, always has the same azimuthal position (with respect to the rotation axis) with each orbit.

[0209] Instead of a planetary gear with two ring gears and two planet wheels, the planetary gear can for example also be realised with not more than one ring gear and not more than one planet wheel.

[0210] The mechanical demands on the workpiece holder 10 can be greatly reduced if two tool engagements take place with each engagement of the tool, and specifically at locations of the workpiece 1 which lie opposite one another with respect to the longitudinal axis, and in particular also axially (with respect to the longitudinal axis Z) at the same position.

[0211] FIG. 5 illustrates a detail of the device 100 with two profiling heads 3a, 3b, wherein furthermore yet a radial feed and an axial advance are symbolised. The orbiting bodies (including in each case at least one tool holder) and, inasmuch as is provided, the planetary gear can be mounted in the profiling heads 3a, 3b.

[0212] The profiling heads 3a, 3b or the parts which are mounted in them can be designed essentially in the same manner but mirror-imaged with respect to the movements.

[0213] By way of this, the workpiece 1 which is represented in a symbolised manner in FIG. 5 (dashed) can be machined in each case by way of two tools which lie opposite one another with respect to the longitudinal axis Z.

[0214] The movements of the two orbiting bodies can accordingly be synchronised with one another or result from one and the same movement, for example of one and the same rotation drive. And one or more ring gears can be fixed in each of the profiling heads.

[0215] In the course of the machining, it can be advantageous if the workpiece can be moved axially, thus in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis Z, in order to permit an advancing formation of the profiling along the longitudinal axis Z by way of a multitude of successive tool engagements into the workpiece. This of course is also the case if only a single profiling head is provided or the tool engagements only take place from one side or in each case do not take place by way of more than a single tool.

[0216] Such an axial movement is symbolised in FIG. 5 by the large arrow which is filled in black.

[0217] For this, a drive AZ can be provided for the axial advance.

[0218] In the course of the machining, it can be advantageous if the tools can be fed radially, thus in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis Z, since with an increasing number of engagements the profile gaps being formed become ever more deeper. This also applies if only a single profiling head is provided or a tool engagement only takes place from one side or in each case does not take place simultaneously by way of more than a single tool.

[0219] Such a radial feed movement is symbolised in FIG. 5 by the open arrows which are denoted at L2. It can take place along an axis which runs perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis and is parallel to a plane which is described by the orbiting movement of the tool holder.

[0220] For this, a drive A2 for the radial feed can be provided.

[0221] Due to the radial feed, the trajectory or the movement path of the tool holder results from a superposition of the orbiting movement U with the (linear) radial feed movement, as is schematically illustrated in FIGS. 6A-6C.

[0222] FIG. 6A herein symbolises an orbiting path U of a tool holder.

[0223] FIG. 6B symbolises a radial feed movement L2.

[0224] FIG. 6C symbolises a trajectory T of a tool holder which results from a superposition of the orbiting movement U and the radial feed L2. Herein, in reality the distances between the roughly circular trajectory constituents can be very much smaller than is represented for clarity in FIG. 6C.

[0225] FIG. 7 illustrates a detail of a device 100 with two profiling heads which each include three tool holders 5a1, 5a2, 5a3 and 5b1, 5b2, 5b3 each with two tools 2a1, 2a1 and 2a2, 2a2 etc. respectively.

[0226] By way of (as the case may be per profiling head) several tool holders 5a1, 5a2, . . . being provided, several engagements can take place per one orbit of an orbiting body, which can permit a quicker machining and thus a creation of the profiling within a shorter time.

[0227] By way of several tools being provided per tool holder, their service life can be increased and thus a longer interruption-free profiling can be made possible. For example, the second synchronising device S5 (see FIG. 1) can be configured such that given n tools per tool holder, in each case after an orbit of the orbiting body 8 at a certain position along the orbiting path U (se FIG. 1) of the tool holder 5 (for example where the engagement into the tool 1 is to be completed) the tool axis of the respective tool has an azimuthal orientation which differs from the azimuthal position at the beginning of the orbit by 306?/n. The difference can also be a multiple of 360?/n, inasmuch as this multiple is different from 360? and from a multiple of 360?.

[0228] Furthermore, it is illustrated in FIG. 7 that profilings between two profiling delimitation structures, for example between the two workpiece shoulders 13,13 can also be created by way of the method which is described in this text, wherein the profilings can each reach up to close to the profiling delimitation structures.

[0229] FIG. 8 in a section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis Z shows a profile body 1p which includes a profiling P which can be produced by way of the described method or by way of the described device. The profiling includes a multitude of profile gaps pl. Each of these profile gaps pl has arisen by way of a successive execution of a multitude of engagements of one or more tools 2 which each have an active region 21 which in the section according to FIG. 8 has a shape which corresponds essentially to the shape of a profile gap pl which is to be produced.

[0230] The profile body 1p is a hollow part which is seated on an outer-profiled mandrel 6 and includes an outwardly projecting shoulder 13. On account of the use of a profiled mandrel 6, not only can an outer profiling be produced by the method but also yet simultaneously an inner profiling.

[0231] Concerning solid parts or hollow parts which are seated on non-profiled mandrels, one can produce an outer profiling without an inner profiling being simultaneously co-produced.

[0232] Furthermore, it is possible to produce an inner toothing in a hollow part, without an outer profiling being produced in the hollow part. FIG. 9 illustrates this.

[0233] FIG. 9 in a section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis shows a detail of a workpiece 1 which is seated on an outer-profiled mandrel 6 and is just about to be machined in the described manner by way of a tool 2. By way of the machining, material of the workpiece 1 is then shaped into profile gaps 6p. The tool 2 has an extensive active region.

[0234] FIG. 10 in a section which contains the longitudinal axis Z, by way of an example shows that an outer surface of a machining region 11 of a tool 1 does not need to be cylindrical, but for example as is represented, can be conical.

[0235] FIG. 11 in a section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis Z by way of an example shows that an outer surface 11a of a machining region 11 of a workpiece 1 does not necessarily need to be rotationally symmetrical but for example can be polygonal as is represented. What is represented in FIG. 11 is the case that the outer surface 11a includes six part-surfaces; however, one can also envisage the outer surface 11a including very many more part-surfaces. In the associated machining region, the workpiece 1 can be, for example, prismatical.

[0236] FIG. 12 shows an example for a workpiece 1 or a profile body 1p with two axially distanced profiling delimitation structures 13, 13 which project radially outwards. The profiling P with its profile gaps pl which is produced by way of the described method reaches to up to close to these.

[0237] Profiling delimitation structures can also be directed radially inwards, relative to the adjacent section of the machining region. FIG. 13 shows an example of this, in which the profiling delimitation structures 13 at one end of the machining region 11 are directed radially inwards and the profiling delimitation structures 13 at the other end of the machining region 11 are directed radially outwards.

[0238] FIG. 14 by way of an example illustrates that a machining region 11 does not necessarily need to be delimited on one or two sides by profiling delimitation structures. What is represented is a profile body, concerning which both ends of the machining region 11 are not adjacent to profiling delimitation structures.

[0239] FIG. 15 by way of an example illustrates that a profiling delimitation structure 13 of a workpiece 1 is not necessarily rotationally symmetrical. In the illustrated example, several radially outwardly projecting workpiece projections are provided, which are located at different azimuthal positions.

[0240] FIG. 16 in a section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L illustrates a workpiece 1 or a profile body 1p which includes a profiling whose profile gaps 1p are distributed in a non-uniform manner azimuthally. Although profile gaps which are uniformly distributed over the circumference are preferred for many applications, there are applications for which an azimuthally irregular arrangement of profile gaps pl is advantageous.

[0241] Of course, a single workpiece can include two or more different machining regions, which for example can be axially distanced to one another and which in each case are provided with a profiling in the manner which is described in this text.

[0242] Concerning the examples which are represented in FIGS. 1, 5, 7, a plane which is perpendicular to the tool axis Q contains the longitudinal axis Z. This however is only one option. As already mentioned further above, this option can be particularly useful if a straight toothing is to be produced and the workpiece is at standstill or rotates only slowly during the engagement.

[0243] However, one can also envisage a plane which is perpendicular to the tool axis enclosing a pivot angle ? (not equal to zero degrees) with the longitudinal axis, as is represented schematically in FIG. 17. This can be useful for producing obliquely running profilings as for example oblique toothings, or also if the workpiece 1 rotates during the tool engagement, such as for example in the case of a rotation movement of the workpiece 1 or the workpiece holder at a constant rotation speed. In particular, as is represented in FIG. 17, the (pivoted) tool axis Q can be pivoted with respect to a perpendicularly aligned tool axis Q in such a direction which is parallel to the longitudinal axis Z. In other words, it is pivoted such that the non-pivoted tool axis Q together with the pivoted tool axis Q lies in such a plane which is parallel to the longitudinal axis Z. The mentioned plane in FIG. 17 is the plane of the drawing. A plane which is perpendicular to the pivoted tool axis Q is represented in FIG. 17 in a dot-dashed manner and with the longitudinal axis encloses the pivoting angle ? as also the pivoted tool axis Q encloses the pivoting angle ? with the non-pivoted tool axis Q. The magnitude of the pivoting angle ? can be dependent for example on the obliqueness angle of the profiling or on the rotation speed of the workpiece or workpiece holders during the engagement.

[0244] For example, the profiling head can be pivoted so that the tool axis Q, the rotation axis W (of the tool holder) and the orbiting body axis V can be simultaneously pivoted.

[0245] If the tool axis Q, the rotation axis W and the orbiting body axis V are parallel to one another, then for example these can all be pivoted about the same pivoting angle ?. The plane which is perpendicular to the tool axis Q then on account of the mutual paralellities is also perpendicular to the rotation axis W and to the orbiting body axis V.

[0246] As has already been explained further above, the method which is described here can also permit the production of profilings which require large forces for this, wherein despite this a formation of the profiling up to close to the profiling delimitation structures (such as for example workpiece shoulders) is possible.