A combination of international regulations and consumer expectations is driving the demand for reduced noise on all drivetrain components. Further demand is driven by the growing trend towards EVs and HEVs, where noise from ICE is intermittent or no longer present, and the contribution of transmission noise to overall vehicle noise becomes dominant.
On the surface, it may not seem like the gear inspection industry has changed much over the last few years. Shops still primarily use either machines that are dedicated solely to measuring gears, or multiuse Coordinate Measuring Machines (CMMs). And regardless of which machine they use, software serves as the backbone that supports their many diverse sensors.
Manufacturers wishing to progress from manual metrology to using a CNC coordinate measuring machine (CMM) have a new option to consider—the new ALTO 6.5.5 from CMM manufacturer LK Metrology, Derby, UK. Appealing to the entry-point of the CMM market, the machine has guideways made from aluminium, lowering the capital cost compared with making those components from ceramic, as is the case with most LK CMMs. Several innovative design features have resulted in a surprisingly compact measuring machine, with the high accuracy and rapid throughput normally associated with more expensive systems.
Gleason’s new 300GMS nano Gear Metrology System is built for today’s unprecedented transmission noise challenges and tooth form quality requirements. 300GMS nano delivers sub-micron analysis of tooth surface roughness after polish grinding; applies Advanced Waviness Analysis tools to detect and mitigate critical noise behavior caused by hard-to-find tooth form irregularities.