Spiral bevel gears have 2 tooth geometry systems: Gleason spiral bevel gear and the Klingelnberg spiral bevel gear. Each system influences the cutting and finishing methods. Below introduced 3 primary processes for spiral bevel gears, each suited for different precision and production requirements.
- Gleason Lapping
This is a fine finishing process, Spiral bevel gears and spiral bevel pinion are meshing together with an abrasive compound to improve surface smoothness and optimize the contact pattern. The accuracy usually DIN7-8. It reduces noise and vibration in medium-load transmissions, and cost-effective for achieving good running performance without the expense of grinding.
- Gleason Grinding
This precision process uses a grinding wheel to achieve very high accuracy DIN5-6 and an excellent surface finish on hardened gears. It is the preferred choice for high-performance applications like aerospace and automotive gearboxes requiring extremely low backlash and some other heavy load industries. It delivers the highest dimensional accuracy and surface quality.
- Klingelnberg Hard Cutting
This process involves cutting or shaping gear teeth directly from hardened blanks after heat treatment, eliminating the need for post-cutting heat treatment. It ensures hardness consistency and micro-accuracy while maintaining production efficiency. It offers high accuracy DIN5-6, which is a productive alternative to grinding for hardened gears, with minimal distortion.