Holding Gears - 3 axis mill

[richardsalzman]

I am starting to work on a project with gears. I have been thinking about the best way to hold them. For the first side, I was thinking about using the cyanoacrylate glue approach. But I am not sure how to do the second side. Any thoughts?

This image is not exactly what I will be machining, but something in this realm:

richardsalzman_0-1771211965483.png

Here is a link to the drawing:  

https://a360.co/4rXNLEK

[seth.madore]

Depending on the material (steel, alum, plastic), I'd be totally comfortable holding them in aluminum soft jaws.

[richardsalzman]

Thanks Seth.  I forgot to mention that this will be made from 6061.  Just so I understand you correctly, you would machine one side in the first operation including the gear teeth, then flip it over, put it in round soft jaws that press on the outside diameter of the teeth (as if it were just a cylinder) and machine side two?  I am assuming you would machine something into the jaws to register the gear position.

Some time ago, you helped me with soft jaws for a flywheel (see below).  It seems like you are suggesting a similar technique.  Can you please jog my memory, why didn't we make the registering piece that fits into the flywheel round instead of the shape shown below?  Looking at the drawing, only the left and right sides make contact with the model, the top and bottom of this shape do not contact the flywheel.  Was the intent to limit it to only two points of contact?

richardsalzman_1-1771277211048.pngrichardsalzman_2-1771277228613.png

Thanks, as always... Richard

[seth.madore · Accepted solution]

I would just machine a diameter in the jaws, not the actual profile of the teeth. The idea above is exactly what I'd do; machine a bore and leave a post that locates on a unique spot. The diamond shaped post is to account for size variation while maintaining rotational accuracy (around the Z) for the part.

[programming2C78B]

How many? Just use round soft jaws. It doesnt matter too much if the teeth compress in the jaws because youre going to find center anyway. 

[lauri_barnhart]

Hello, @richardsalzman,

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