Demands for increased throughput, with smaller lot sizes at lower cost have led to the development of an innovative approach to machining both: the gear bland and gear teeth on a single machine.

This paper will concentrate on the potentials and risks of combined process machines what are capable of turning, hobbing, drilling, milling, chamfering and deburring of cylindrical gears. The same machine concept can be used for singular operations of each manufacturing technology on the same design concept. This leads to reduced amounts of different spare parts, increases achievableworkpiece quality and harmonizes on a commonuser friendliness. In the end the economical potential of combined process technology and a vision for integrated heat treatment is shown.