Bevel gears are a type of gear like spur gears and worm gears. A bevel gear is a truncated cone with a toothed outer surface. While the axes of the frequently used spur gear are aligned parallel to each other, in a bevel gear the drive shaft and output shaft intersect at an angle to each other – often the axis angle is 90°. The tooth flanks touch linearly. A bevel gear consists of two components: the bevel pinion and the larger ring gear. The drive is usually via the bevel pinion, with both directions of rotation being possible. Bevel gears are used to transmit torque and rotary movements, for example in machine tool construction, automation and rolling mills.
MANUFACTURING OF BEVEL GEARS
Different materials can be used to manufacture a bevel gear, which depend on various factors and operating conditions, such as the peripheral speed, the size and weight of the drive and the shock resistance. Cast iron, for example, offers good load-bearing properties and easy machining options, making it suitable for large gears with a complicated shape. Cast steel, on the other hand, can withstand high loads and is used for the difficult production of bevel gears.
Traditionally, the wheels are manufactured in machining using bevel gear planing or bevel gear milling machines. Milling is still used successfully in series production today, although 5-axis milling using bevel gear milling machines is not profitable for small tooth gaps due to the long production time.
One of the newer production methods is 5-axis milling on 5-axis simultaneous machining centers, which is often used for large bevel gears and small quantities.
