Near zero degrees cross-axis angle gear cutter and method of gear cutting using such a tool
A gear cutter tool for cutting internal gear teeth into a workpiece to form a gear is provided. The gear cutter tool is configured to rotate about a longitudinal gear cutter rotational axis. The workpiece is configured to rotate about a workpiece rotational axis. The gear cutter tool includes a gear cutter having a plurality of cutting teeth. Each cutting tooth of the plurality of cutting teeth having a tooth face that defines a cross-axis tooth angle defined between the tooth face and a line transverse to the longitudinal gear cutter rotational axis. The cross-axis tooth angle is between one and fifteen degrees. A cross-axis tool angle of the gear cutter tool defined between the longitudinal gear cutter rotational axis and the workpiece rotational axis is substantially near zero degrees.
1 . A gear cutter tool for cutting internal gear teeth into a workpiece to form a gear, the gear cutter tool configured to rotate about a longitudinal gear cutter rotational axis, the workpiece configured to rotate about a workpiece rotational axis, the gear cutter tool comprising:
a gear cutter having a plurality of cutting teeth, each cutting tooth of the plurality of cutting teeth having a tooth face that defines a cross-axis tooth angle defined between the tooth face and a line transverse to the longitudinal gear cutter rotational axis, wherein the cross-axis tooth angle is between one and fifteen degrees, wherein a cross-axis tool angle of the gear cutter tool defined between the longitudinal gear cutter rotational axis and the workpiece rotational axis is substantially near zero degrees.
2 . The gear cutter tool of claim 1 wherein the cross-axis tool angle is between one and six degrees.
3 . The gear cutter tool of claim 2 wherein the cross-axis tool angle is between one and five degrees.
4 . The gear cutter tool of claim 3 wherein the cross-axis tool angle is between one and four degrees.
5 . The gear cutter tool of claim 4 wherein the cross-axis tool angle is three degrees.
6 . The gear cutter tool of claim 4 wherein the cross-axis tool angle is two degrees.
7 . The gear cutter tool of claim 4 wherein the cross-axis tool angle is one degree.
8 . The gear cutter tool of claim 1 wherein the cross-axis tooth angle is between ten and fifteen degrees.
9 . The gear cutter tool of claim 8 wherein the cross-axis tooth angle is between one and ten degrees.
10 . A method of cutting internal gear teeth into a workpiece to form a gear using a gear cutter tool, the method comprising:
providing a gear cutter having a plurality of cutting teeth, each cutting tooth of the plurality of cutting teeth having a tooth face that defines a cross-axis tooth angle defined between the tooth face and a line transverse to a longitudinal gear cutter rotational axis, wherein the cross-axis tooth angle is between one and fifteen degrees;
rotating the workpiece about a workpiece axis; rotating the gear cutter tool about a longitudinal gear cutter axis, the workpiece and longitudinal gear cutter axes defining a cross-axis tool angle therebetween; and cutting the workpiece with the plurality of teeth, wherein the cross-axis tool angle is substantially near zero degrees.
11 . The method of claim 10 wherein the cross-axis tool angle is between one and six degrees.
12 . The method of claim 11 wherein the cross-axis tool angle is between one and five degrees.
13 . The method of claim 12 wherein the cross-axis tool angle is between one and four degrees.
14 . The method of claim 13 wherein the cross-axis tool angle is three degrees.
15 . The method of claim 13 wherein the cross-axis tool angle is two degrees.
16 . The method of claim 13 wherein the cross-axis tool angle is one degree.
17 . The method of claim 10 wherein the cross-axis tooth angle is between ten and fifteen degrees.
18 . The method of claim 10 wherein the cross-axis tooth angle is between one and ten degrees.