A flex ring forming tool, forming apparatus, and method of cold-forming a profiled workpiece through radial material flow is disclosed wherein the flex ring has an internal profile complementary to the profile of the finished workpiece and wherein the lands of the flex ring forming profiles have uniform, relatively narrow widths from the minimum depth leading ends to the maximum depth trailing ends of the profiles while the widths of the forming profiles at a given radial distance from the center of the flex ring gradually increases from their leading to their trailing ends. The flex ring is deflected inwardly to penetrate the workpiece blank as the workpiece is fed therethrough with the feed of the workpiece and the flexing of the ring by the apparatus being coordinated so that the workpiece is progressively formed into the desired profile by the straining of localized circumferential areas of the workpiece and the resulting radial material flow in the workpiece blank.
A cutting machine includes linear electrical actuation for controlling linear reciprocating movement of a spindle and cutting tool. The cutting machine is suited for gear shaping cutting operations and the like. Linear electrical actuation may be used to control position of a hydraulic valve within the spindle, which controls hydraulic actuation and linear movement of the spindle. Linear electrical actuation may also be used to pivot the spindle to relieve the cutting and/or during the cutting stroke for gear crowning operations. A rotary actuator is also disclosed as incorporated into the pivoting saddle of such a cutting machine.
