Precision Gear Hobs for High-Performance Hobbing
Premium HSS and PM-HSS gear hob cutters engineered for accuracy, repeatability, and long tool life across spur, helical, spline, worm, and timing gear applications.
What Are Gear Hobs?
A gear hob is a cylindrical, multi-tooth cutting tool used in the gear hobbing process to generate accurate gear teeth. The hob and the gear blank rotate together in a fixed, synchronized ratio, allowing the tool to cut the complete tooth profile in one continuous operation. Hobs produce spur, helical, spline, worm, and timing gears with high precision and excellent production efficiency.
Manufactured from premium high-speed steel grades such as HSS M2, M35, M42, and PM-HSS (ASP 2030), Maxwell gear hobs are engineered to deliver superior cutting performance, longer tool life, and consistent tooth profiles. They are widely used across automotive, aerospace, power transmission, robotics, and heavy engineering, where reliable gear production is essential.
Every hob is vacuum heat treated for dimensional stability and finished to DIN 3968 accuracy classes, so engineers achieve dependable output run after run.
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✓High Precision: Accurate tooth profiles with excellent repeatability.
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✓Faster Production: Continuous generating process improves machining speed.
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✓Long Tool Life: Premium HSS and PM-HSS materials deliver superior durability.
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✓Wide Compatibility: Suitable for spur, helical, spline, and worm gears.
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✓Cost Efficient: Reduces machining time and overall production cost.
Types of Gear Hob Cutters Available
A complete range engineered for precision hobbing, from straight and helical gear hobs to spline, worm, and timing pulley hobs, with custom modules and profiles on request.
Straight Gear Hobs
For spur gear applications requiring clean, accurate tooth generation.
Helical Gear Hobs
For angled tooth profiles and quiet, high-load transmission.
Spline Hobs
For shafts and internal or external spline geometries.
Worm Gear Hobs
For high-torque transmission and worm wheel cutting.
Timing Pulley Hobs
For toothed belt and timing-driven power systems.
Gear Hob Specifications
A complete range of high-speed steel gear hobs, optimized for long tool life and flawless gear cutting. Every parameter is tailored to your machine and gear design.
| Parameter | Specification Range |
|---|---|
| Module Range | 0.5 to 25 Module |
| Pressure Angle | 14.5°, 20°, 30° (Custom available) |
| Number of Starts | Single, Double, Multi-start |
| Profile Type | Full Form / Semi Topping / Non-Topping |
| Material | HSS M2, M35, M42, PM ASP 2030 |
| Coating Options | TiN, TiAlN, AlCrN, TiCN |
| Accuracy Class | Class AA / A / B (DIN 3968) |
| Direction of Cut | Right Hand / Left Hand |
| Bore / Shank Type | Bore Type / Shank Type / Hub Type |
| Diameter Range | Up to 250 mm |
| Face Width | Up to 100 mm |
| Application | Spur, Helical, Spline, Worm, Timing Gears |
| Lead Time | Ready Stock / 4 to 6 Weeks |
| Customization | Yes, tailored to your machine and design |
Engineered to Print
Send us your gear drawing or sample. We reverse-engineer and manufacture hobs to your exact module, pressure angle, and machine spindle, with full inspection documentation on every order.
Material & Coating Technology
Performance is driven by material composition and coating. The right combination ensures optimal cutting efficiency, thermal stability, and extended tool life under varying machining conditions.
HSS M2 Gear Hobs
- Suitable for general-purpose gear cutting
- Balanced toughness and wear resistance
- Cost-effective for medium production volumes
HSS M35
- Higher heat resistance from cobalt content
- Ideal for harder materials and higher speeds
- Improved tool life compared to M2
PM ASP 2030
- Superior wear resistance and edge retention
- Best for high-speed CNC hobbing and mass production
- Excellent performance in dry machining conditions
How Do Gear Hobs Work?
Gear hobbing is a continuous generating process. The hob and gear blank rotate together in a fixed ratio while the hob feeds across the gear width, forming the full tooth profile smoothly and evenly.
Synchronized Rotation
The hob and gear blank rotate together in a fixed, synchronized ratio.
Progressive Engagement
Multiple cutting edges engage in sequence, removing material step by step.
Axial Feed
The hob moves across the gear width to complete the full set of teeth.
Continuous Generation
The complete gear profile is generated in one continuous, efficient operation.
Gear Hobbing vs Gear Shaping
Both are widely used gear manufacturing processes. The right choice depends on gear type, production volume, and machining requirements.
Gear Hobbing High Output
- Continuous generating process using a rotating hob and workpiece
- Best suited for external gears: spur, helical, spline
- High production speed and efficiency
- Ideal for large batch manufacturing
- Limited capability for internal gears
Gear Shaping
- Reciprocating cutting process using a gear-shaped cutter
- Suitable for both external and internal gears
- Slower due to the interrupted cutting motion
- Preferred for complex geometries and internal profiles
- Better for low to medium production volumes
Why Engineers Choose Maxwell Tools
By focusing on metallurgy, high-accuracy production methods, and tailored tool design, engineers achieve consistent output and dependable performance across demanding operations.
DIN 3968 Accuracy (Class AA & A)
Strict adherence to DIN 3968 ensures highly accurate tooth profiles, consistency across large runs, reduced errors, and minimal rework.
Advanced Coatings for Longer Life
TiAlN and AlCrN coatings withstand high temperatures and reduce wear during continuous cutting, lowering replacement frequency and cost.
Wide Module Range up to 25
One trusted supplier across small to large gears, simplifying tooling decisions in complex manufacturing setups.
Custom-Engineered Solutions
Each tool is designed around your exact gear specification and machine parameters for a better fit and higher cutting efficiency.
Stable in CNC Hobbing
Consistent performance in high-speed CNC environments, handling continuous operation without losing accuracy or stability.
Full Inspection & Traceability
Every hob is verified before dispatch with documented inspection, so quality is provable on arrival.
Inspected, measured, and proven before it ships.
Maxwell operates a fully equipped tool room and metrology lab. Every gear hob is vacuum heat treated, precision ground, and dimensionally verified so it performs exactly to print on your machine.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is gear hobbing and how does it work?
Gear hobbing is a machining process that cuts gears using a rotating hob cutter. The workpiece and the hob rotate in a synchronized manner, allowing precise gear teeth to be generated. It is widely used for spur, helical, and spline gears with high accuracy and efficiency.
Which gear hob should I choose for my application?
Use straight gear hobs for spur gears, helical hobs for angled teeth, spline hobs for shafts, worm gear hobs for worm wheels, and timing pulley hobs for toothed belt systems. Custom modules and profiles are available on request.
What materials are used to manufacture gear hobs?
Gear hobs are made from High-Speed Steel grades (M2, M35, M42) and Powder Metallurgy HSS (ASP 2030). HSS suits general applications, while PM-HSS offers superior wear resistance and longer life in high-speed environments.
Can gear hobs be used on CNC machines?
Yes. Gear hobs are fully compatible with CNC gear hobbing machines, giving higher precision, better repeatability, and more efficient production of complex gear profiles.
What is the difference between single-start and multi-start hobs?
Single-start hobs give higher precision and a better finish, recommended for accuracy. Multi-start hobs cut faster for higher production but with slightly lower accuracy.
What types of gears can be made using gear hobs?
Gear hobs produce spur gears, helical gears, worm gears, splines, and sprockets, covering the most common power transmission components.
What industries commonly use gear hobs?
Automotive manufacturing, aerospace, robotics, industrial machinery, and power transmission equipment producers all rely on gear hobs for accurate, high-volume gear production.
How do I choose the right gear hob?
Match the module (or diametral pitch), pressure angle (14.5° or 20°), gear type (spur or helical), number of starts, and hob material (HSS or PM-HSS) to your gear and machine.
What is the difference between hobbing and form milling?
Hobbing is a continuous generating process, faster and better for production. Form milling uses profiled cutters to cut one tooth at a time with indexing, slower but flexible for small batches.
Can one gear hob produce different gear sizes?
Yes. A single hob can produce different gear sizes within a range, depending on the module, pitch, and gear specification.
Send Us Your Gear Hob Requirements
Share your drawing, module, and machine details. Our engineers will recommend the right hob and respond with a quick quote.