I'm happy with a nice quiet, free running gear train. My needs are not for high speed or high torque -- just kinematic synchroni zing. I really need SMOOTH accurate geometry though. I think the resolutio n of 3D printers will have to come up pretty far before they work for me. Heck, even the highest definitio n video still shows artifacts of the discrete pixels.

If you  want to loose sleep, read up on how they design gearboxes for aircraft -- helicopte rs and the V-22 Ospray in particula r. The requireme nts were high power, light weight, and super reliabili ty. Easy!

--Justin

James :

 All true. However, using additive methods for moulds is pretty good for bevels if one needs the strength
and I suspect a nylon bevel is pretty strong for most applicati ons for small mechanism s. ( Windo blind winders and such).

   Im seeing many posabilit es. I printed a bearing this week, runs pretty well so I can see where
GT will have to offer parametic bearings for printing, hinges..a nd a variety of other 3d objects.. HOW one
deals with making them Ill leave up to the user. Its possible to download models of many things these
days, but GT will concentra te on proper mathmatic s of models and parametri c ways of creating them. Ill
focus on output options that reflect whats possible for each model type.

   
Art

Thanks
Dan

Good for quick prototypi ng and yeah making a plug or mold, but problem is that most additive materials and technique s aren't up to the requireme nts that a bevel gear train needs.  If not peak loading, then long-term wear, not even metallic sintering .  And even then with most of them, you will still have to machine finish the gear faces...


Very cool stuff nonethele ss.

Thanks,

-James

Kirk:

   Its due to the angles involved, getting a smooth blank of the right size in a 4th axis would take a very long time..
take multiple tool sizes to do it efficient ly..basic ally a pain in the ass. Its why special machines make bevels, you rarely mill them
or make them any other way..

  Now 3d printing seems the way to do.. Im of the opinion even to print one to use as a mould is probably quicker and better quality than trying
to machine one...

Art

Art:

I don't have a 4th axis so this is mostly academic, but why do you have to have a special blank?  Wouldn't it be easier to make one that's somewhat close (bandsaw to the general diameter, say, from the proper thickness), then mount it in the 4th axis and mill it to the proper diameter/shape?  Could this be something that GM could do for you?

Be gentle, way out my depth here.

Kirk

Dan, GT is included with GM.

Ken

Hi:

   I think helical bevels were turned off until straight bevels were tested. As yet, they havent been with the new code. They require a
milling bit tapered at the pressure angle. The problem with bevels is they are very hard to cnc, while 3d printing them is easy, cnc'ing them
requires a special blank as well as the tapered bit. The older code used a stright flute and worked, but peopel wanted smaller bevels so we
switched to tapered bit and as yet it hasnt tested out. I plan to offer a new improved version in the fall for cnc bevels, but till then your limited to straight ..

Art

Hi guys, 

Yes, I had mis-input the tool diameter.  It's always the little things that get you...

Now onto my next question:

Are helical bevels not implement ed yet?  When I try to output the G-code for one, I get a file with nothing but the comments and no instructi ons.

 I  looked to d/l GT but can't locate it anywhere. Can you send me a link?
Dan Mauch