Discontinuous profile grinding of multi-phase, case-hardened gears with improved load-carrying capacity

Highly-loaded transmission components like gears are case hardened for most applications to reach a load adapted strength. The surface layer microstructure as a function of heat treatment decisively determines the achievable load-bearing properties of the component as well as the technological limits of gear grinding. Against this background, this paper deals with the machinability (discontinuous profile grinding) of differently (carburizing and carbonitriding) case-hardened gears with various multi-phase microstructures and improved load-carrying capacity. Therefore, effects of different material phases, precipitates and their distribution in the surface layer on the gear-grinding process will be discussed.