Powder metal internal gear rolling process
A method for forming an internal gear is provided comprising providing a powder metal preform workpiece, supporting the workpiece about its periphery, and roll forming said workpiece to produce a set of densified gear teeth of a predefined dimension.
1 . A method for forming an internal gear is provided comprising:
providing a powder metal preform workpiece;
supporting the workpiece about its periphery; and
roll forming said workpiece to produce a set of densified gear teeth of a predefined dimension.
2 . The method according to claim 1 wherein said powder metal workpiece comprises a toothed preform.
3 . The method according to claim 1 wherein said powder metal workpiece comprises a non-toothed preform.
4 . The method according to claim 1 wherein said set of densified gear teeth are any one of a straight or helical form.
5 . The method according to claim 1 wherein said roll forming includes either axial or radial feeding.
6 . The method according to claim 1 wherein said roll forming includes a single rolling tool.
7 . The method according to claim 1 wherein said roll forming includes a plurality of rolling tools.
8 . A tool set for forming an internal gear comprising:
a holding fixture for supporting a powder metal workpiece around the periphery of said workpiece; and
a rolling tool for roll forming an inner surface of said workpiece to produce a set of densified gear teeth of a predefined dimension.
9 . The tool set according to claim 8 wherein said rolling tool is configured to apply to said set of densified gear teeth either straight or helical teeth.
10 . The tool set according to claim 8 wherein said rolling tool is fed either axially or radially.
11 . The tool set according to claim 8 comprising a single rolling tool.
12 . The tool set according to claim 8 comprising a plurality of rolling tools.