Non-Involute Solid Modeling Software

[mfg11eng11guy]

Does anybody know of any modeling software that uses a generative modeling approach to modeling non-involute shapes into gears?

Example, By trial and error, I would like to model a worm gear with some basic rack shape, and extrude-cut the generated profile out of the gear. This will be identical generative grinding process except I want to experiment with different rack forms and evaluate the generative profiles.

 

[Occupant]

I think any modeling software will let you define a shape and sweep it through a path that you define. The attached shows a) a round shape and b) a varying pith path - and I did that a long time ago in Autodesk Mechanical Desktop, which wasn't even a 3D modeler.

 

[mfg11eng11guy]

What you have is a swept cut. I would like to have a generated cut based on two dynamically rotating or moving components. A few example videos are below

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24k-W7ca070

-AND-
Fast-forward to about 0:52 and watch the animation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2QvI7MXohk

 

[mfg11eng11guy]

Actually, if anybody knows anything about non-involute hob cutter design I think they could be of some assistance.

 

[gearcutter]

Try these guys. Their software has been around for ages.
I don't think that their software uses a GUI, I think it opens up in DOS-like window.

http://sofengsvc.com/#conforms

CONFORMS takes the known tooth form of a gear, rack, or worm, and calculates the generated form of the mating gear, rack, or worm. Tooth forms may be helical, spur, involute or non-involute, external or internal. (Examples: gear teeth, including root generation and involute modifications; worms; splines; ratchets; sprockets; impeller rotors; hobs; shaper cutters; seaming & rolling dies)

Mating parts may mesh at parallel or crossed axes. The input form may be given in any cutting plane and the output form can be provided for any cutting plane. Form geometry for input and output is lines and arcs (if your geometry is supplied in terms of a math function or rectangular or polar coordinates, FITFORMS can convert it to line-arc geometry). Tooth form geometry may also be imported from a CAD system, created by our GEARPACK, INVFORMS, RAKFORMS, or FLUTES software, or calculated 'longhand'.

The output geometry is mathematically exact, not approximate. Output may be graphically displayed (including active mesh), transmitted to a CAD system, or used as input to other programs. You can use the output directly for wire EDM form cutting or other N-C operations. Output geometry can be in our own SES format, DXF format, HPGL format, or generic N-C format (G1, G2, G3 codes, etc)

 

[Occupant]

I read it wrong, I thought, you wanted to generate a screw. But perhaps something like the attached would work. However, I did this in Autocad - so you wind up with a curve that you'd have to then extrude.

 

[mfg11eng11guy]

gearcutter....

This is exactly what I am looking for. Is cost high? Have you used this software?