Set Your Gears in Motion
Metal fabrication shops benefit from the advances developed by manufacturers and service providers to increase operational efficiencies.
Posted: February 22, 2022
Whether it is through advancements in gear-cutting machines or deep-hole drilling products, job shops have access to a variety of products to assist them in their projects.
All New M673 Gear Shaping Machine
For the first time gear manufacturers can now access the all-new model MZ M673 CNC gear shaping machine, designed and built by Monnier + Zahner (MZ) in Switzerland and distributed in North America by Helios Gear Products LLC (South Elgin, IL). Gear shaping is a versatile cutting process for producing external or internal gears and other repeating tooth forms such as splines, sprockets and serrations. The M673 features 1.25 module (20 DP) FANUC CNC shaping for parts up to 80 mm (3.15 in) diameter, 10–30 mm (0.4–1.18 in) stroke length up to 2,000 strokes per minute, a compact footprint, and unified versatile gantry automation.
Gear manufacturers of medium- to high-volume fine-pitch jobs will increase productivity with the M673’s set of features, ease of training, and intuitive programming. High-volume, internal gear and spline shaping especially benefit from the M673’s use of automation, high-speed cutting (with carbide cutting tools), and flexible tailstock.
New Six-inch Depth of Cut Two-Speed Magnetic Drill
Hougen Manufacturing, Inc. (Swartz Creek, MI) has released a new portable magnetic drill, the HMD918, which is a major upgrade to the depth of cut in the line of Hougen’s magnetic drills. It features a high torque motor and extended six-inch drilling depth to give metal fabricators more options to drill deep holes in steel, whether it is a solid piece of material or multiple stacked plates. It also includes a two-gallon pressurized coolant bottle that easily attaches to the drill arbor and provides coolant to the cutter no matter the position of the drill.
The drill includes many standard Hougen features such as the mag drill pilot light for low light conditions. Powering the drill is a proprietary high torque two-speed Hougen motor. The two speeds help maximize tool life and increases torque when using large diameter cutters and the high torque requirement when drilling deep holes. The two-stage magnet increases magnetic holding power by 30% when the drill motor is turned on. This saves energy and increases magnet life.
The HMD918 weighs just 44.2 pounds, measures 26-5/16″H x 7-1/2″W x 12-13/16″L and provides drilling capacities from 13/16″ up to 2″ (21-to-50 mm) diameter and 6″ (152 mm) depth of cut. The drill has an electrical rating of 13.5A and 250/450 RPM motor.
For safety, the HMD918 incorporates Hougen’s exclusive features, including a no-adjustment safety switch that shuts down the drill motor if lift of the magnetic base is detected — plus an LED indicator that monitors this sensor and alerts if the switch is not engaged. A two-stage power on switch prevents drill rotation unless the magnet has first been engaged, and, in the case of a power interruption, safety circuitry will keep the drill motor off after power is restored until the start button is manually depressed. The HMD918 is made in the USA.
Updated Metrology Software Inspects Gears Automatically
Coordinate measuring machine (CMM) manufacturer LK Metrology, Inc. (Hudson Heights, MI) has released the third version of its CAMIO software. The CAMIO 2021 programming and measurement software features numerous improvements, the most significant is the inclusion of a module that automates the inspection of spur and helical involute gears.
CAMIO GEARS makes it possible to begin measuring the specific geometry of gears quickly by using the core capabilities of CAMIO software to generate straightforward inspection programs, advanced gear reports and automated probe calibration routines.
For each gear type, the software has a unique set of definitions, evaluation algorithms and reporting graphics conveniently packaged in one add-on module, making it easy for users to bring a new capability to their existing CMM. The module supports alignment of the gear axis during measurement using any of the three CMM axes and traditional touch trigger probes or advanced scanning probes.
INTEGREX i-630V AG Takes the Guesswork Out of Gear Cutting
During its DISCOVER 2021 event, Mazak Corp. (Florence, KY) showed shops how they can add gear cutting to their part-processing repertoires with the company’s INTEGREX i-630V AG HYBRID Multi-Tasking Machine. Equipped with Mazak’s MAZATROL SmoothAi control, SMOOTH Gear Cutting software suite and additional rotary axis scale feedback, the machine eliminates the guesswork often associated with gear cutting, particularly in terms of programming and the synchronization of turning/milling spindles at high rpm. The results are a far more refined cutting action and smoother gear teeth surface finishes.
Designed for heavy-duty 5-axis machining and large, highly complex parts, the INTEGREX i-630V AG employs a powerful turning spindle with C-axis control and a rigid milling spindle with B-axis tilt of -30/+120 degrees, both of which are monitored via rotary axis scale feedback.
For effective gear skiving, machine spindle rpm must remain high and constant, as any fluctuation in the turning spindle or milling spindle speeds will cause vibration and poor surface quality. If either spindle starts to fluctuate or drift off target speed, the SMOOTH Gear Cutting software automatically adjusts cutting parameters. Without the software, such corrections are very difficult to make in real time, if not impossible.
