Vertical Hob Machine

Changing Fixtures, Hob Cutters or Workpieces (manual loading) is far simpler and faster than in a horizontal hobber as compared to a vertical hobber. As the workpiece /fixture are positioned vertically, they are very easy to exchange and accurately mount. The Hob Head of a vertical hobber allows great accessibility to the work table/tooling area and peripheral equipment (auto loader, transfer unit etc.) can be added without reducing operability!

Hand Scraped Guideways

Kashifuji hand scrapes the guideways on all its hobbing machines to create a platform that dampens and absorbs the intermittent cutting forces that are inherent to hobbing process. This feature allows many years of use while still maintaining superb hobbing accuracies.

Generally, machining has limited achievable accuracies due to friction created distortions and/or internal stress relief produced during the machining process. Variations of temperature and humidity during the machine process can also reduce accuracy. Kashifuji utilizes a hand scraped surface finish to assure highly accurate guideways that are not possible by any machining/grinding process.

Hand Scraping is a finish processing method that makes the guideways extremely accurate with an ideal flatness and straightness by manually removing metal in extremely small amount (1~3 micro meters) by the use of a hand tool called a "Scraper". This hand tool has a carbide tipped single edge blade with a blunt angle. This tool is used to relieve the surface tension (create numerous, evenly distributed small, shallow dips or reliefs) in the guideway surfaces. Scraping produces a very flat surface, and the "shallow divots" retain oil which creates smooth sliding surfaces while reducing wear.

Hand scraping is a labor intensive process. The guideway surfaces are painted with a dye then rubbed with a reference straight edge, the dye collects on the highspots. The highspots are then removed by hand scrapping. This process (applying dye, rubbing & scrapping) is continually repeated until approximately 30% of the guideway surface is relieved producing ~70% bearing surface. This process produces an extreme flatness.

Hand scraping is referred to as a "Master's Skill". Kashifuji's skilled craftsmen are able to make accurate micro-meter scraping marks compensating for variations caused by material or temperatures changes. The "scraping pattern" produced, is often referred to as an "art form", and is unique to each craftsman. It takes many years of tedious, difficult work to acquire the experience & skill to become an accomplished Kashifuji "Scraper"

Programming

Programs are created by only inputting part gear data, hob data and cutting conditions. After the completion of the programs, hobbing will be automatically performed by selecting the part number.

Optional crowning, relieving and/or taper hobbing cycles are easily performed. Simple and easy-to-operate hobbing programs are available for a wide variety of production situations, from mass production to special prototype hobbing.

Automation

Numerous styles and types of auto loaders, conveyors or part stockers are available for automatic part transfer. All loader design are labor saving and increase efficiency.

Basic 2-Arm Auto Loader(KN80, KN152)	Basic Ring Loader (KA200E, KE201/251, KA220/400)
Examples of Automation	Transfer Example for Flat Gears
Examples of Automation	Transfer Example for Flat Gears
Transfer Example for Shaft Gears	Transfer Example for Shaft Gears