4th Axis Bevel Gear Setup

[ajfreeze]

Where did we land on 4th axis bevel gear cutting?  ;D

[ArtF]

Still untested, current version needs a tapered endmill at Pressure angle to cut. Im looking into making it
a 3 ais engraving and pocketing style cut instead..

Art

[ajfreeze]

Thanks Art, I appreciate the response and definitely the effort you put into all your software.  First off, I'm a beginning hobbyist.  So if my questions are simple, or irrational, please forgive me.

So what I was thinking was simple cutting out set up triangles at the angle that your are stating in the g-code, and using those to set the table.....would that be close enough? (I'm still searching for a tilting table--any suggestions?)

Also, does the A axis need to be rotated to angle of the gear, or still parallel to X? 

And...if you choose to use an involute cutter option, are you still tilting the table or rotating it and taking 3 swipes at the gear?  I know it's not the truest form, but you get gears that run (from what I've read and seen), and for prototyping, would that not be close enough?

I just want to make some gears...... ;D

Thanks Art--aj

[ArtF]

Hi:
>>First off, I'm a beginning hobbyist.  So if my questions are simple, or irrationa l, please forgive me.

    Never a problem. 

>>So what I was thinking was simple cutting out set up triangles at the angle that your are stating in the g-code, and using those to set the table.... .would that be close enough? (I'm still searching for a tilting table--any suggestio ns?)

That could be done. The A Axis is tilted upwards to the bevel angle and the tool is then zeroed at start of top rear tooth.
As I say, its never been done, even by myslf, though I verified the code numerically. The original straight flute has been done, Ive made several myself. In that mode you also tilt to the bevel angle, and zero the same. You do need to bevel a blank
though to use. The DXF put out shows the blank. I suspect a lot more will be cut if I change it to 3axis cutting, and when the 3d printing module is ready.

Thx
Art