Additive Manufacturing (AM) is a space that is maturing at insensate speed—the growth and innovation in materials and technology are staggering. Because of the inherent process of 3D printing, it may allow for a renaissance in the physical design of gears (i.e., integral channels for cooling, lightweighting, and other possibilities) but also holds the potential for gear repairs. Gear Technology spoke with JEOL, Nidec, and Fortify about the technologies they will be on-site to discuss at IMTS 2022.

Nidec Machine Tool Corporation recently developed the "SE25FR Plus," a gear shaping machine dedicated to making high-precision small-module gears used in robots. The company simultaneously developed a small-module cutting tool specifically for the new gear shaping machine. By providing this dual support in high-precision gear cutting machines and cutting tools from a single source, Nidec Machine Tool responds to the need for reduction gears of increasingly higher precision in the expanding global robot market.

Nidec Machine Tool (Wixom, Mich.), responding to the needs of the industry, is debuting the new GE15HS gear hobbing machine at IMTS 2022 in Booth #237036. Emphasizing high speed, precision and efficiency, the new machine produces gears for electric and hybrid cars, as well as for robotic and automation applications.

Production demands continue to rise with the burgeoning electrification movement. The desire for high-precision gears and low-cost manufacturing requires versatile and affordable high-efficiency processing to serve the needs of a variety of industries. Gathered here are a few recent hobbing solutions from Affolter Group, Helios Gear Products, and Nidec Machine Tool Corporation.