Effect of alloy-specific case-hardening layers on the grindability of gears.

Previous studies have already demonstrated a clear influence of the different subsurface microstructures resulting from variations in case-hardening on machinability during gear grinding. However, the impact of the alloy system has not yet been considered in detail. In order to fill this knowledge gap, case-hardening layers are analysed using six case-hardening steels with different alloy systems and their resulting machinability during discontinuous profile grinding of gears is compared. In particular, the results indicate that the outer subsurface area (up to approx. 30 µm in depth) formed as a function of the alloy system has a significant influence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]