Smaller Shaping Head Increases Stroke Length

Designed for its Platform 2 (LSE/LFS 200 to 500) and Platform 3 (LSE/LSF 600 to 1600) machines, Liebherr Gear Technology will display a smaller shaping head option which eases electronically-controlled machining of spur and helical gear teeth. The SKE 120 shaping head with dynamic rotary drive and moveable head slide occupies less space at a stroke length of 120 mm, increasing the stroke position travel range to 650 mm on Platform 2 machines and 350 mm on Platform 3 machines. The shaping spindle is hydrostatically mounted and channeled.

 The optional NC swivel column slide, which can produce conical gear teeth at a shaping spindle angle between -1 and +12 degrees, has been optimized to achieve greater rigidity. If NC swivel column slides are not used, the shaping spindle angle can be adjusted by as much as ±0.45 degrees using a cam. The direct-drive electronic lead guide provides latitude and flexibility, requiring only that users enter a helix angle between 0 and 45 degrees; the control system calculates the rest.

To machine different helix angles on gears, the motion of the shaping head must replicate the gear’s helix angle. This can be performed with a mechanical lead guide, eliminating the need for manual change-over from mechanical lead guides. Setup times are shortened because an electronic lead guide requires only that the shaping tool be changed, if at all. An added benefit is that customers do not have to invest in multiple lead guides.