Gear Skiving

One of the most popular methods of gear manufacturing is skiving. Skiving is a process of producing gears by removing material from a gear blank using a cutting tool with a reciprocating motion.

Skiving is a highly efficient and precise method of producing gears. It can produce high-quality gears with excellent surface finish and low noise level. The process is commonly used to produce gears with a module of 1.5 and above and with a maximum diameter of 400mm.

The skiving process involves the use of a specially designed cutter, which is made up of multiple cutting edges arranged in a helical pattern. The cutter is mounted on a special skiving machine, which has a reciprocating motion that moves the spinning cutter across the gear blank. The machines are also equipped with a high-pressure coolant system, which cools the cutting tool and lubricates the cutting area, preventing heat build-up and prolonging tool life.

Skiving is suitable for producing various types of gears, including spur gears, helical gears, and internal gears. The process is especially effective for producing helical gears, as it allows for accurate control of the helix angle and lead deviation. The helical pattern of the cutting edges on the skiving cutter matches the helix angle of the gear teeth, ensuring a precise and uniform cut.

In addition to the high precision and excellent surface finish, skiving also offers several other advantages. It is a highly efficient process that can produce gears with minimal material waste. It also offers excellent repeatability, allowing for the production of identical gears with high accuracy and consistency. Skiving is also a relatively fast process, with cycle times typically ranging from a few seconds to a few minutes, depending on the size and complexity of the gear.

However, skiving does have some limitations. It is not suitable for producing gears with a module smaller than 1.5 or with a diameter larger than 400mm. The process also requires a high level of expertise and skill to operate the skiving machine and to program the cutting parameters accurately. Furthermore, the cost of the skiving cutter can be relatively high, although this can be offset by the high productivity and efficiency of the process.

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