Manufactured from S45C carbon steel, KHK SI internal gears are designed to deliver exceptional strength and durability. With a precision grade of JIS N8, these gears ensure smooth and reliable operation, making them an excellent choice for planetary gear drives, robotics, automation equipment, and other high-performance machinery.

The SI internal gears are offered in a wide range of modules from 0.5 to 3, and tooth counts from 50 to 200, allowing engineers and designers to select the optimal size for their specific requirements. Their internal gear design enables compact power transmission solutions and is fully compatible with any spur gear of the same module, providing flexibility and ease of integration into new or existing assemblies

These steel internal gears are commonly used in planetary gear drives, robotics, precision machinery, and other industrial equipment that require compact, high-torque transmission. Product specifications include modules, number of teeth, pitch diameter, face width, outer diameter, and a standard pressure angle of 20 degrees.

About KHK USA Inc.

KHK USA, based in Mineola, New York, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kohara Gear Industry. KHK USA is a factory direct, full-service distributor of KHK gears with a large selection of products available off-the-shelf and via frequent replenishment to meet your gearing needs. On staff application engineers assist customers with a wide selection of gears for their design or can produce customer gear quotations.

KHK USA offers over 200 types of gearing in more than 27,000 configurations, including metric spur gears, helical gears, internal ring gears, gear racks and pinions, miter and bevel gears, worms and worm wheels, gearboxes, ratchets, couplings, splines, right-angle gearboxes, and more. By specializing in metric gears, using the internationally recognized module system, KHK USA enables seamless compatibility with global engineering standards. Additionally, its free gear calculation and drafting software allows customers to design custom gear solutions for a wide range of unique applications.

Reflecting on this milestone, Brian Dengel, General Manager at KHK USA, said, “Our 10-year anniversary is a testament to our team’s dedication and the trust our customers have placed in us. We look forward to continuing to deliver high-quality metric gear solutions and the technical support our partners rely on.”

About KHK USA Inc.

KHK USA, based in Mineola, New York, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kohara Gear Industry. KHK USA is a factory direct, full-service distributor of KHK gears with a large selection of products available off-the-shelf and via frequent replenishment to meet your gearing needs. On staff application engineers assist customers with a wide selection of gears for their design or can produce customer gear quotations.

The Swiss Affolter Group (www.affoltergroup.ch), the world technology leader in high-precision gear hobbing solutions, proudly announces the launch of the state-of-the-art AF140. The innovative company’s newest gear hobbing center is designed for small gears up to 40 mm in diameter and a maximum module of 1.0 mm. Positioned between and replacing the AF90 and AF100, the AF140 delivers the strengths of its predecessors while introducing next-generation automation and connectivity features.

The AF140 was developed in close collaboration with users and industry partners to meet the growing demand for simplicity, compactness, versatility, and ingenuity in gear hobbing.
Designed primarily for the watchmaking sector, the machine is equally suited for precision
applications in micromechanics, aerospace, automotive, micromotors, robotics, and medical
technologies.

“With the AF140, we are offering our customers a perfect balance between performance, flexibility, and innovation,” reports Mikael Affolter, Head of Sales at Affolter Group. “Its
compact footprint makes it ideal for workshops where every square centimeter matters, while its compatibility with existing loaders and the option of a robotic arm provide new levels of automation and productivity. Combined with remote service features, the AF140 represents a true step forward in precision gear hobbing.”

Speed meets precision

The AF140 reaches cutter rotation speeds of up to 16,000 rpm and workpiece rotation speeds of up to 5,000 rpm. The new and customizable robotic arm option for automatic loading and unloading significantly boosts the productivity of the AF140, enabling seamless automation and reliable 24/7 production. At the same time, the machine remains fully compatible with established loaders such as W20, W25, W31, AF45, deburring units and more. Built on the powerful Pegasus CNC platform, the AF140 provides digital integration with IO-Link sensors, simplified commissioning, and advanced remote service for real-time support and updates.

With the launch of the AF140, Affolter has streamlined its product line, replacing the AF90
and AF100 with a clear and future-ready two-machine portfolio: AF140 and AF160. Mikael
Affolter explains: “This simplification of our product portfolio further enhances our customer
service capabilities, strengthens operational efficiency, and creates a solid foundation for
growth and innovation in the coming years.”

Features of the AF140:
Max. part diameter 40 mm / 1.58 in
Max. part length 125 mm / 4.92 in
Max. machining part 50 mm / 1.97 in
Max. module 1.0 mm / DP 25
Max. hob cutter diameter (gear hobbing) 32 mm / 1.26 in
Tilt angle of the hobbing head (A axis) +/- 30°
Max. rotation of the hob spindle (B axis) 16’000 rpm
Max. rotation of the workpiece spindles (C-C’ axis) 5’000 rpm
Dimensions (W x D x H): 850 x 1,050 x 1,810 mm / 33.5″ × 41.3″ × 71.3″
Empty weight: 950–990 kg / 2,095 – 2,185 lbs

About Affolter Group

Tradition meets innovation: The Affolter Group is a family enterprise and world technology leader in high-precision gear hobbing solution with more than 160 employees around the globe. The highly specialized company was founded in 1919 by Louis Affolter in Malleray, Switzerland. The more than 100-year history of the Affolter Group was filled with technological innovations. Today, the fourth generation leads the family enterprise. The Affolter Group operates worldwide with a broad network of distributors.

Capable of processing parts up to 1 meter in diameter and pitches ranging from micro to coarse, Hera hobbing machines combine Fanuc CNC, direct-drive torque motors, X-axis linear scales, and intuitive dialog programming. Optional unified automation further simplifies integration for manufacturers seeking higher throughput and repeatability.

“Visitors can watch the Hera 350 cut spur and helical gears on demand and learn how the same core technology scales across eight machine sizes,” said Adam Gimpert, President of Helios Gear Products. “Our goal is to give job shops and OEMs a dependable, productive, and cost-effective path to higher capacity without a steep learning curve, and we’ve done it by pairing the Hera lineup with our suite of workflow solutions.”

Because every Hera model shares identical controls and mechanical architecture, expanding capacity requires minimal additional training or system integration. Combined with globally competitive pricing, a compact footprint, and responsive domestic support, the Hera platform has become a popular choice for manufacturers that need to scale quickly.

Matt Davis, owner of Buffalo Gear, reports significant gains with his Hera 350:

“I would say we are about 50% more efficient with our setups. The guys no longer bend down to swap change gears. You load the blank, program the part, and you are saving someone’s back. With the larger gears this machine can run, it is just unbelievable.”

EVENT DETAILS

Motion + Power Technology Expo 2025
Date: October 21-23, 2025
Location: Huntington Place, Detroit, Michigan
Booth: #137

ABOUT HELIOS GEAR PRODUCTS

Helios Gear Products specializes in the parallel axis gear industry, offering machines, consumable tools, and automation systems for gear hobbing, worm and thread milling, shaping, power skiving, and deburring and chamfering. Our expert team also offers cutting tool and abrasive tool technical support, including engineering, service, and comprehensive gear manufacturing consultation. With a wealth of global expertise in gear engineering, Helios supports today’s manufacturers by scaling productivity and efficiency. Helios Gear Products, LLC services the North American market for YG Tech, Monnier + Zahner / Lambert−Wahli, Tecnomacchine, and Tyrolit−MIRA. Helios also offers cooperative sales and service with Kapp Technologies and Penta Gear Metrology.

The company’s gear racks are offered in sizes from Module 0.5 through Module 10, with lengths from 100mm through 2000mm. All of the racks offered by KHK USA have finished ends which permit the joining of various lengths of gear rack to form one continuous length.

The list of available materials for KHK gear racks includes brass, carbon steel (S45C), chromalloy steel (SCM440), stainless steel (SUS303), and engineering plastics such as MC901 nylon.

The 360 configurations of the company’s gear racks include rectangular cross section, square cross section and round cross section with either straight or helical teeth. These gear racks can be supplied with modifications including the addition of tapped or through holes, hardening of the teeth and shortening of the length. KHK USA J-Series products, which have already had many of these modifications completed, are available with quick lead times.

Unique to KHK is a laser hardening process for gear racks. This process allows for the hardness of the rack tooth flank to be similar to that of an induction hardened or flame hardened rack, without the introduction of any distortion. These gears racks are identified in the KHK catalog by a suffix of HL.

About KHK USA Inc.

KHK USA, based in Mineola, New York, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kohara Gear Industry. KHK USA is a factory direct, full-service distributor of KHK gears with a large selection of product available off-the-shelf to meet your gearing needs. On staff application engineers assist customers with a wide selection of gears for their design and can produce customer gear quotations.

• Charlotte, NC: February 11–12 (seminar course)
• Anaheim, CA: February 19–20 (seminar course)
• Chicago, IL: May 13–15 (flagship full course)

The flagship Chicago program offers a deep dive into gear manufacturing, including cutting, finishing, and final inspection. In addition to classroom instruction, participants will benefit from hands-on machine demonstrations at Helios Gear Products and plant tours at industry leaders such as Forest City Gear and Overton Chicago Gear.

Helios Gear Schools are ideal for manufacturing management, engineers, supervisors, set-up technicians, operators, and quality control personnel. Class sizes are intentionally kept small to ensure an interactive and engaging learning experience. Past attendees, like Harrison from Amarillo Gear, have praised the program as a “very good entry-level course,” noting its interactivity and the value of the facility tours. For 2025, Helios Gear Products is partnering with industry experts from both the company and Kapp Niles to offer participants diverse perspectives and real-world operational insights.

About Helios Gear Products

The company specializes in the parallel axis gear industry, offering machines, consumable tools, and automation systems for gear hobbing, worm and thread milling, shaping, power skiving, and deburring and chamfering. Our expert team also offers cutting tool and abrasive tool technical support, including engineering, service, and comprehensive gear manufacturing consultation. With a wealth of global expertise in gear engineering, Helios supports today’s manufacturers by scaling productivity and efficiency. Helios Gear Products, LLC services the North American market for YG Tech, Monnier + Zahner / Lambert−Wahli, Tecnomacchine, and Tyrolit−MIRA. Helios also offers cooperative sales and service with Kapp Technologies and Penta Gear Metrology.