Research on the theoretical tooth profile errors of gears machined by skiving

•A systematic study of tooth profile error of gears machined by the conventional skiving is carried out.•The factors of tooth profile error of gears machined by skiving are ascertained.•Error-free cylindrical skiving tools are recommended in gear skiving.

This study focuses on the theoretical tooth profile errors of gears machined by conventional skiving. The influences of skiving cutter rake angle on tooth profile errors of gears are analyzed. It is found that the inherent error of skiving cutter and the longitudinal deviation of cutting edge contributed to the gear profile errors. The influences of skiving cutter resharpening are then analyzed, and it is found that the resharpening amount of skiving cutter has obvious influence on the tooth profile error of workpiece. Therefore, conventional skiving tools are defective in high accuracy gear machining.