Original Date: 10/14/1988
Revision Date: 01/18/2007

Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. (BHTI) and Gleason Gear Works are currently in the process of jointly developing and implementing a computer numerically controlled (CNC) gear grinder for spiral bevel gear manufacturing.

Working jointly under an Army funded Manufacturing Methods and Technology (MM&T) project since 1986 the two companies are developing a CNC grinding machine that will manufacture spiral bevel gears faster, with more consistency, and with less operator dependency.

Starting with an existing manual machine, the two companies have designed a machine with an improved CNC controller. The machine has the following features: DC drives for the cradle generating cam and the work spindle; a variable speed grinding wheel spindle; an electronic feed controlled work spindle with a magnetic particle brake for positive positioning; a new wheel dresser arrangement with two-axes CNC contouring capabilities and a variable speed rotary diamond dresser; and digital read-outs are provided on selected non-controlled axes, thus eliminating the use of the vernier scale and providing consistent positioning data to all operators.

The machine was re-built and tested at Gleason and then delivered to BHTI and installed in Plant 5 in August 1988. Early tests by BHTI indicate some significant savings in the manufacturing process. A typical run of 25 parts on existing equipment prior to modifications requires 74 hours total manufacturing time. The same parts manufactured on the CNC grinder require only 22.5 hours.

For more information see the Point of Contact for this survey.