Surface error measurement of spiral bevel gears using scanning measurement

The gear tooth flank form is a very important factor to dynamic performance of spiral bevel gears. The scanning measurement method is developed to measure tooth flank form using virtual conjugate reference tooth flank. In this paper the usage of this method and the data processing method for spiral bevel gears are introduced. The wheel reference tooth flank is the theoretical tooth flank calculated by machine setting, and the pinion reference tooth flank is the conjugate one to the wheel reference tooth flank. Because the scanning measurement machine uses a 2D senor, so the bad influence of friction between the probe and tooth flank on the measured results can be avoided, therefore the scanning measurement has great information and enables quick, fully automated high precision measurement of tooth profile and lead. The method is suitable for control and management of tooth flank form quality of spiral bevel gears for mass production. Because the scanning measurement makes use of virtual conjugate reference tooth flank, the shape and location of tooth contact pattern can be directly judged from measured tooth flank form data, and the control and management of the tooth flank form quality can be carried out visually and effectively.