Gear Cutting Machine
Built by Dick Watson in October 2005
This machine is based on a design by V. Vollenhoven of Eindhoven published in the March 1972 Meccano Magazine. The information was obtained from Tim Edwards’s website. Mr. Edwards made his own version of the model and put photographs on his website. These were extremely useful, as the ones in the magazine did not show some important details.
The machine works using the “hobbing” principle. The teeth are cut using a worm shaped milling cutter. The disc which is to made into a new gear wheel is driven round by a worm and gear wheel drive so that a reproduction of the existing gear is produced — rather slowing in the model.
In its original form, it could only copy an existing gear wheel, but it has been modified so that it will make gears with unusual numbers of teeth and so that the depth of cut can be changed.
The cutter is a ½” BSW tap, which has very nearly the correct pitch for Meccano gears, but slightly different tooth form.
The model is constructed entirely using Meccano and compatible parts available from the usual suppliers. The 3 flat axles are used to ensure that the gears are properly cut.