Laser Interferometric Measuring Method of Involute Artifact and Stabilization of Measurement

Vibration and noise are serious problems with involute spur and helical gears used, e.g., in drivetrains of vehicles such as automobiles. The gear tooth flank form of micrometer order markedly affects gear vibration and noise; therefore, the tooth flank form quality must be strictly controlled to maximize gear performance. Tooth profile measuring machines used in calibration for form error inspection of involute gears usually use an involute artifact, which itself must be calibrated highly accurately. However, it is typically difficult for current tooth profile measuring machine using contact stylus to calibrate the involute artifact with a high accuracy while satisfying traceability to a national standard. A highly precise and traceable measuring technology for the involute artifact is therefore required. The direct measurement of the involute artifact we propose uses a laser interferometer, whose measurement stability is confirmed in experiments measuring the detailed form of an involute tooth flank.