Design of a Special-Purpose Hob With Prescribed Value of the Hob-Setting Angle for Machining of Cluster Gear

This paper aims to develop of a robust analytical approach for computation of the principal design parameters for a special-purpose involute hob for machining of cluster gear. The specific combination of design parameters for a precision hob with particular value of the hob-setting angle is given. This combination of parameters includes (a) the hob outside diameter, (b) the base diameter of the hob, and (c) the required value of the hob-setting angle. The specific combination of these design parameters for the involute hob determined here allows machining of cluster gear with the shortest possible neck width. Numerous computer codes for computation of the design parameters of an involute hob are developed using the commercial software MathCAD-Scientific. Application of the special-purpose hob would allow reduction of size and weight of both the cluster gear itself and the whole gear transmission including housing. The reported results of the research are ready for application in industry.