The manually operated, Russian-built five-axis gear shaper now works with the latest computer controlled standards. It is now operated by a NUM Axium Power CNC system and uses electronic gearbox methods to synchronize the working of stroking axes, gear blank and rotary cutter.
The novel programmable replacement provided for the stroking axis cuts down the product switchover time from hours to minutes, thus increasing productivity.
The gear shaper is currently being used to manufacture large internally cut gears for the wind turbine industry.
DePe Gear, who bought the Stanko gear shaper for use in the manufacture of large-sized internal gears needed for the wind turbine industry, later entrusted the task to Euro CNC, a company known for its machine upgrading, rebuilding and retrofitting capabilities. DePe Gear currently deals with a range of gear cutting and shaping machines.
Euro CNC, after ascertaining mechanical serviceability of the machine, has reequipped it with new drives, motors, digital units for all the axes, a CNC system for functional ease and a modified HMI to substitute outdated mechanical switchgear. To overcome the problems normally associated with gear shaping machines that use a complicated cam-driven ‘nodding’ axis to manage the up and down movements of the cutting tool for cutting the gear blank, it developed a new stroking axis module that is based over a complete programmable linear actuator.
The software blends a graphical user interface utilizing commonly used gear shaping terms with an informal conversational type of program to assist users who are unfamiliar with the use of CNC-based machines to become experts instantly.
According to DePe Gear Company’s Technical Director, Nigel Parker the Stanko gear shaper is utilized for a range of internally cut gears such as splined gears and spur gears for use in the gearboxes of wind turbine generator. He added that the machine, with its all digital-approach to switch over the manufacturing processes, is bringing down the time taken for initial setup and operation.
Source: http://www.depe.co.uk/