# Rapid Spur Gear Profile Inspection Using Chromatic Confocal Sensors

## TL;DR

A new non-contact method using Chromatic Confocal Sensors improves gear inspection speed and accuracy, enabling real-time quality control.

## Contribution

A novel in situ gear inspection method using CHCS is proposed, offering high-speed, non-contact measurement with high accuracy.

## Key findings

- Gear inspection using CHCS achieved an accuracy of 1 μm with interquartile range within 2.5 μm for qualified gears.
- The CHCS-based inspection system enables real-time monitoring and high throughput without damaging gear surfaces.
- The prototype system allows inspection without moving the gear, facilitating subsequent finishing processes.

## Abstract

What are the main findings?
A novel method for in situ inspection of gear profiles using a Chromatic Confocal Sensor (CHCS) is proposed.The verification and validation of this gear profile inspection method have been performed via software simulations and experiments.

A novel method for in situ inspection of gear profiles using a Chromatic Confocal Sensor (CHCS) is proposed.

The verification and validation of this gear profile inspection method have been performed via software simulations and experiments.

What are the implications of the main findings?
Less time-consuming, high throughput gear inspection.Reliable quality control for gear inspection.

Less time-consuming, high throughput gear inspection.

Reliable quality control for gear inspection.

Gears, as critical power-transmission components in most power equipment, have a particularly urgent need for in situ inspection systems. Traditional gear inspection methods rely on contact inspection instruments, which are not only time-consuming, but also potentially damage the gear surface due to contact. This study delves into the detection requirements in the gear manufacturing process and establishes a rapid, non-contact detection mechanism and model using a CHCS. This model employs a CHCS to achieve high-speed, non-contact measurement on various surfaces with extremely high accuracy, enabling real-time monitoring of production process details, thereby improving production efficiency and ensuring product quality. Through actual inspection and comparison with a standard involute spur gear tooth profile model, this study implements a complete inspection system in a prototype. The results of gear inspection using a CHCS with an accuracy of 1 μm showed that the interquartile range of qualified gears under test (GUTs) was within 2.5 μm, and the beard line value was within 10 μm. The experiment demonstrated a layout equipped with a CHCS where the rotating axis represents the hobbing machine spindle. This method can be completed without moving the gear, enabling subsequent finishing processes.