A hobbed gear is different from other types of gears due to its characteristic manufacturing technique. A gear hobbing machine generates the required gear profile by rotating the gear blank and the cutter (also called a hob) at the same time. The profile of a hobbed gear depends on the ratio of rotations of the blank and the hob.

Hobbed gear suppliers can provide spur, helical, crown and worm gears. The hobbed gears can have internal or external gear tooth as per your power transmission system.

Some important parameters you must consider before buying a hobbed gear are:

1. Loads acting on the hobbed gear
2. Power transmission ratio (or gear ratio)
3. Dimensions of the hobbed gears: diameters, module and width
4. Type of gear teeth: straight or helical
5. Expected life of the hobbed gear

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Buy a hobbed gear from reputable hobbed gear manufacturers

Once you identify your power transmission requirements, check out standard industrial gears available in the market.

I recommend: TIFCO Gage & Gear, a precision gear manufacturer, supplies hobbed gears with external diameters up to 7 inches. You can buy a metric or imperial hobbed gear at American Gear, a reputable hobbed gear manufacturer. Columbia Gear also supplies hobbed spur gears and hobbed helical gears. Cleveland Gear Company is a manufacturer of power transmission components that also supplies hobbed gears.

Buy hobbed gears from gear distributors or retailers

You can compare different hobbed gears based on their features and prices at hobbed gear distributors or retailers' websites.

I recommend: Kaman Industrial Technologies, an industrial distributor, supplies power transmission products including gears. Motion Industries is another distributor of industrial components including gears. You can also refer to the list of hobbed gear suppliers at AGMA (American Gear Manufacturers Association) and ThomasNet.

Evaluate gear hobbing services from well-known service providers

Various companies that offer metal-forming services also provide gear hobbing services. Check out these services to obtain the appropriate hobbed gears as per your requirements.

I recommend: Rush Gears, a reputable gear supplier, provides machining services such as gear hobbing and grinding. You can avail the gear hobbing and shaping services offered by Reliance Gear, another manufacturer of precision gears. B&R Machine and Gear, a provider of metal forming services, also offers gear hobbing services. Ashley Ward is a supplier of screw machine parts and gear hobbing services.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Inquire about details of AGMA standards that your hobbed gear supplier has followed.
• •  Register with the reputable associations of hobbed gear suppliers to keep yourself informed about the updates in gear hobbing machines and technologies.