Retrofittable, cost-effective, graphics/conversational control systems that address all gear manufacturing contain embedded machining cycles for gear hobbing, shaping or grinding.

NUM offers a family of cost-effective control systems well suited to address all aspects of gear manufacturing. Configured with a state of the art CNC, motors/drives and very user-friendly software, these 'off the shelf solutions', can be used in new machines or to re-control existing machines. The embedded machining cycles for gear hobbing, shaping or grinding and automatic gear/tool alignment are governed by a graphical and conversational menu-driven human machine interface (HMI).

The NUM gear control systems saves the OEM or integrator years of software development, while reducing the cost of employee training.

They are perfectly suited for the production of any size or type of gears at a reasonable cost.

The PC- or CNC-based HMI allows the operator to program the machine without knowledge of ISO code programming.

The operator is guided by pictorial information and questions presented on the screen.

Entry screens provide the machine operator with a comprehensive graphical approach that depicts the hob or grinding wheel, the gear, and associated setup data in a clear and concise manner.

He or she simply fills in the data fields presented in the screen.

After this data entry session, the program is automatically generated, stored, and it is ready for execution.

Online step-by-step video tutorials and graphical simulation further facilitates the operation.

In addition, the operator can combine conversational/graphical programming with ISO programming or use one or the other individually, if desired.

NUM application engineers familiar with gear manufacturing are available to help with system integration and technical support.

Two system packages are available as follows.

* With the Simple Electronic Gear Box package, the CNC synchronizes cutter rotation and axial tool motion (Z-axis) with the rotation of the work piece (C-axis).

This configuration is principally designed for the simplest machines with three axes (X, Z, and C) and a spindle.

* With the Full Electronic Gear Box package, the CNC adds tangential tool movement (Y-axis) to the synchronization of the Z- and C-axis.

This configuration is designed for applications with up to six axes (X, Y, Z, A, C, and W) and a spindle, allowing for manufacturing of bevel and helical gears with straight or conical cutting tools.

* NUM gear manufacturing features the following.

N Simple Electronic Gear Box.

High-speed control link to drive worktable (C) from tool or axial (Z) input.

* Full Electronic Gear Box features the following.

High-speed control link to drive worktable (C) from tool, axial (Z) or tangential (Y) input.

* Automatic Gear Alignment - rapidly aligns the hob or grinding wheel (tool) to a gear (or work piece), which already has teeth.

Operator prompted teach routine to find first gear.

High speed Interface to tooth edge sensor to store gear image.

* Interactive graphical/conversational programming has the following features.

User-friendly Windows based interface.

Library of tools (Straight hob, tapered hob, or milling cutter).

Automatic hob shift management.

Helical, spur and worm gears.

Hobbing cluster gears via an unlimited number of sequential machining cycles (Any combination).

Vertical or horizontal machine configuration.

Tooth modifications (Crown or taper).

Tooth alignment to another gear on the same shaft.

Radial hobbing cycle (Standard or single Index).

Radial axial hobbing cycle (up to four cuts).

Tangential or diagonal hobbing cycle.

Integrated context sensitive help file.

Machine functions: manual or automatic part loading, clamping, tailstock and coolant.

The gear alignment option provides cutting tool and gear re-synchronization, via a non-contact sensor, allowing for automatic 'tool-work piece' timing pickup, when reintroducing a precut or hardened gear into the machine.