spline shaft cutters

Hi to all,

Does anyone know where you can get hold of spline cutter simalar to involute type cutter as i need one to make a batch of replacement leadscrews on a M300 Harrison lathe cross slide leadscrew.

I could grind up a single point tool and flycut them but a multitooth cutter would makes things easier.

Do anyone know of a secondhand tool dealer who might have them in stock at a reasonable price.

Alternatively i could make a multitooth cutter and form relieve it and heat treat afterwards.

Regards

John Burridge

John,

Don't think you are going to be lucky with an off the sheft cutter.

Ash Gears in the States have the odd one but again with so many pitches and still 8 to the set, chances are low.

I did some shafts a while ago and made a multi tooth spline cutter. Some info here.

http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/showthread.php?t=41591

John S.

Slightly off track - how are internal splines cut? (ie a pinion that slides on a splined drive shaft?

how are internal splines cut?

Broached

Splines can be of involute form and cut using an internal gear shaping method.

In a jobbing shop internal splines may also be done by spark erosion (EDM).

 Or wire erosion

Nigel

Edited By tractionengine42 on 15/04/2012 10:37:45

When we demonstrate cutting gears by CNC at the shows we tend to use a largish tooth form so people can see it and it also allows us to use a bigger cutter so faster speeds and longer life.

The samples we cut are usually 2 MOD or approx 12 DP and we cut these with a perfect involute with an off the shelf 3mm three flute end mill, basically because we have them on stock !

We also cut helicals the same way.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OI8f6Lrwx00

John S.

Edited By John Stevenson on 15/04/2012 13:28:49

I have seen beautifully cut splined gears cut by a CNC laser in steel about 3/8 inch thick at an exibition. Colin

I cut the splines on this gear using a 'Stan Bray' toolpost slotting tool, and made the 'internal gear' by plunging in a 3-flute cutter - it only acts as a dog clutch on another gear.

Outer gear using the Ivan Law single point cutter method.

Neil

Neil: Wow, those are pretty nifty gears, I'm impressed!

Regards,

Andrew

You ought to see (I'v no photos) the sprockets we use for the chain drive on the hay bale feed out machines we build, they are cut out with oxy acetylene, and cleand up with an angle grinder, the 35 mm hole for the shaft gets bored out on my lathe, and a hub welded on with a key way broached for a 3/8" key. The sprocket is cut from 10 mm hot rolled plate. It works, its cheap. Ian S C