Gear cutting equipment can be very helpful if your industry uses gears, such as manufacturing, processing, and more. Gear cutting machinery can cut, form, and finish gears of all sizes, and has different ways of doing so. Most people use the very common template method, in which the cutting tool follows a guided path, making gear cutting and grinding a simple task. Some types of gear cutting machines include a cutter, or gear hobb, that revolves until it has properly cut and shaped the gear. Hobbing machines are just another choice available in the gear cutting process. Each of these machines performs the same task, just differently.

No matter what type of gear cutting machine you choose, there are many ways to go about cutting gears in your business, as well as many things to consider before purchasing anything. Among them:

1. Decide on the type of gear cutting machine you want, such as whether you want it to be automatic, semiautomatic, or manual.

2. Figure out your budget first so you know whether you should purchase a new or used machine.

3. Think about how often you will actually use a machine if you get it, and decide whether purchasing one or simply using a service is the way to go.

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

Decide which type of gear cutting machinery to purchase

There are a few types of gear cutting equipment available to business owners, and they all perform the same task in the end. However, the process is typically different. A template machine is the most common machine when it comes to making gears, and it works by producing a gear tooth profile that follows a particular path guided by the template. Another popular machine is called a gear hobber, which generates a gear with the use of a cutter, called a gear hobb. This tool revolves and cuts, resulting in a brand new gear. These are just a few of the most well-known gear cutting machines.

I recommend: The Gleason Corporation offers a good selection of different types of gear-cutting machines. Drake Manufacturing offers gear hobbing machines, along with videos about their features, allowing you to make a more educated decision.

Check out brand new gear cutting machines for your company

If you decide that a machine for gear cutting is crucial to your business and you can afford a new one, you have plenty of options when it comes to buying one. Look online at websites that specialize in gear cutting for good deals.

I recommend: Gear Products and Manufacturing Inc. provides different types of gear cutting machines. Bourn & Koch Inc. carries a wide variety of gear hobbing machines on their website, if that is the type of machine you have chosen to purchase.

Buy a used gear cutting machine to save on company costs

Used gear cutting machines work just as well as brand new equipment, with the added benefit of lower costs. Check out companies that sell used equipment if you want to spend less when it comes to gear cutting.

I recommend: R. P. Machine Enterprises, Inc. offers a large selection of used gear hobbing machines for a low price. Repair Parts, Inc. also specializes in used and reconditioned machines, displaying the selection on their website.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Ensure that your gear hobb is sharp enough to cut properly. To do so, you can send your hobb to a hobb sharpening company, eradicating any tooth-to-tooth problems, as they will make sure the teeth are spaced evenly. This makes for the most accurate gear cutting, ultimately saving your company time.