One of my favorite events each year is the Car Training Institute (CTI) Symposium USA in Novi, MI. The program brings together engineers to discuss and debate the current state of the North American automotive market from a powertrain, transmission, and electrification perspective.
The article proposes a method to optimize cylindrical gearbox tolerances by balancing gear noise performance and manufacturing costs using modeling, analysis, and meta-model-based optimization.
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Water spray quenching achieves heat transfer coefficients up to 4,000 W/(m²K)—nearly double conventional oil quenching rates—enabling potential material substitution and tailored quench intensity for complex gear components.
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20NiMo9-7 alloy achieves up to 48 percent higher fatigue strength than conventional carburizing steels in the as-carburized condition, eliminating the need for shot peening and grinding in automotive gear applications.
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An excerpt from Gear Technology Solutions by Dr. Hermann J. Stadtfeld exploring the mathematics behind conjugate bevel and hypoid gears—from the fundamental laws of gearing and the conditions for perfect conjugacy to why real-world power transmissions require deliberate crowning rather than theoretically exact conjugate designs.
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Mechanical power loss in gears is generated through sliding and rolling of the contact resulting in frictional work and elastic hysteresis generation of heat. This action is both a parasitic loss of energy from the drivetrain and a source of engineering costs to control system temperature to avoid heat-related failures of the gearbox components. Therefore, from both a cost and durability standpoint it is of great interest to minimize the frictional losses at the gear tooth contact interface.
Overall developments and widespread public awareness of man-made climate change are transforming the way people think. The awareness has inspired a shift towards a more ecologically sustainable way of life. Driven by policymaking and technological innovation, ambitious efforts are underway to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to curb the rise in average temperatures. A key focus of these efforts is the mobility sector.
Klingelnberg recently invited customers to its first Open House in Saline and the two-day event did not disappoint. Customers from major automotive, off-highway, construction and agriculture OEMs attended a morning of technical presentations before heading into the showroom to learn more about Klingelnberg’s latest machine tool technology.
Since I have had the privilege of visiting numerous gear plants and research centers in the U.S., as well as 170 in 33 countries, and I closely watch the progression of technology, I wanted to share my observations about some technological advancements. For the purpose of this article, I will focus on three key areas: Robotics, Machine Tools, and Heat Treating.
Gleason's Closed Loop System with robot or cobot loading now fully automates the measurement and correction process in gear production. Automatically prompting corrections on connected production machines, the GMSP series not only reduces human error in repetitive tasks, it also increases utilization of inspection equipment up to 90%.
TfG’s RGC 350 Radial Chamfering Machine from Machine Tool Builders produces defined, reproducible chamfers and ‘perfect’ teeth every time. The continuous, high-speed cutting process works wonders even on workpieces with interfering contours. What used to be slow, painful and expensive is now fast, painless, and perfect.
Deburring gears is dusty, repetitive, and hard to staff. The OB7 cobot from Productive Robotics automates it with quick setup and no programming required. Consistent finish on every part, built in the USA. See the full cobot deburring package and request a quote.
Download the whitepaper to learn how lifecycle management improves tool performance, reduces downtime, and drives measurable cost savings.
This white paper explores how the use of an automatic tool change system can boost productivity in the grinding process. When manufacturing large gears, the demands regarding surface quality of the ground tooth flanks are increasing.
At American Precision Gear, quality isn’t just a priority — it’s the foundation of everything they do. The shop specializes in high-precision miniature gears for aerospace, defense, and medical applications, where the strictest tolerances are non-negotiable. Helios Gear Products partnered with American Precision Gear to integrate the MZ 1000 D-Drive into their production.
Forest City Gear announced the retirement of Jeff Mains, Director of Technical Operations, following many years of dedicated service and leadership within the company. Mains’s transition from his full-time role went into effect on Friday, May 29.
Machine Tool Builders, Inc. (MTB) now offers SMG's new SH550 CNC Vertical Gear Hobbing Machine, expanding the SH Series to accommodate workpieces up to 570 mm in diameter and a swing of up to 750 mm (22.5 in. / 29.5 in.). With the addition of the SH550 at the upper end and the SH210 as the smallest model in the line, SH Series machines cover production needs for small-, medium-, and coarse-pitch gears, with pitch capability to 3.2 DP or Module 8 as standard.
Jul 29, 2026 - Jul 30, 2026
The Advanced Manufacturing Expo (AME) (Grand Rapids, MI) is the premier gathering for professionals shaping the future of manufacturing. It’s where innovation meets production — connecting industry leaders, cutting-edge technology, and real-world solutions under one roof. Explore the latest in automation, metalworking, MRO, safety and Industry 4.0 technology across four dynamic halls. From hands-on demonstrations to expert-led sessions, AME provides smarter, faster, and more efficient manufacturing solutions.
Sep 22, 2026 - Sep 23, 2026
Oct 12, 2026 - Oct 14, 2026
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