Design and manufacturing of spiral bevel gears using CNC milling machines

Gears are some of the most important elements used in machinery. Their purpose is to transmit motion and torque from one shaft to another. When shafts intersect, bevel gears provide the most efficient mean of transmitting power. There are two main forms of bevel gears, straight bevel gears and spiral bevel gears. This paper is the first of a sequence of papers concerning design and manufacturing of spiral bevel gears using computer numerical control (CNC) milling machines. It is an introduction to their designing features, showing the standards that recommend the geometrical dimensions of gear tooth and a theoretical approach to the traditionally used cutting methods of spiral gears, Gleason, Oerlikon and Klingelnberg methods. Finally, it is presented five-axis machining tools that can be used for cutting of spiral bevel gears.