Gear Hobbing Machine Offers Ultimate Versatility

When developing the AF160, maximum versatility was the key goal of the Engineering Department of the Swiss family enterprise Affolter Group (www.affoltergroup.ch), a world technology leader in high-precision gear hobbing solutions. 

Vincent Affolter, managing director of the Affolter Group, explains: “The AF160 is designed for high precision manufacturers that need flexibility and efficiency. With its eight axes, sophisticated automation solutions, and an innovative quick-change system, the machine provides exactly that.” 

Three Gear Cutting Configurations 

With the optional quick-change system, machine operators can switch from one configuration to the next in only 30 minutes. In configuration I, both the C axis and the C’ prime axis are equipped with driven spindles. This setup leads to an increased cutting quality, more torque, and more rigidity. This set-up offers the A axis +/- 50° swing. “This configuration is ideal for the production of spur, helical, bevel, crowned and face gears”, Affolter said. 

With a tailstock on axis C and a spindle on C’ prime – configuration II – the operator gets more flexibility. The A axis can move from -50° to +115°, making worm milling possible. This configuration can also be used for all gear types mentioned above. In configuration III, the C axis remains empty, and the C’ prime axis is equipped with a driven spindle.  

“This configuration is designed for the power skiving of internal gears,” Affolter said. “The production of face gears is possible, too.”  

• Telescopic Part loader AF72 

The part loader AF72 has been specifically designed for the AF160. With its double gripper 

system for parallel loading and unloading and a telescopic arm, different configurations depending on the volume, product and application can be chosen for an easy and efficient loading of the parts. The AF72 can be equipped with up to five feeding rails, enabling to preload more parts and let the machine work autonomously for more than 24 hours, with a proper configuration. “The telescopic arm ensures that the working area in the machine remains clear. The arm retracts after loading the parts, giving the operator a good view of the processes during machining,” Affolter said. 

Options for Maximum Flexibility 

The AF160 is configurable for any application. Hobbing options include skiving by sensor detection, integrating the deburring process into the gear production with the addition of the AF54 deburring unit, as well as part orientation and part presence control. Different clamping systems, customizable coolant systems, and chip extraction conveyors provide for added versatility. User friendliness is key: The state-of-the-art digital CNC Control Pegasus ensures extremely fast regulation and integrates IoT. “The intuitive Pegasus controls all machine axes as well as a multitude of peripherals for various options and automations,” Affolter said. Programming is simple, intuitive, and user-friendly with a 19-inch touch screen. Datacan be shared on the cloud, streamlining after-sales service support and preventive maintenance, and therefore minimizing downtimes. Software updates can be done remotely. 

Motion + Power Detroit 

The Affolter Group and its U.S. representative Rotec Tools Ltd. will be showcasing the innovative Affolter technologies at the Motion + Power trade show in Detroit, from October 17-19, 2023. 

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