Difference Between Gear Hobbing and Gear Shaping

Published: 2 Jul 2025

In this post, we’ll look at the difference between gear hobbing and gear shaping process in a clear and easy-to-understand way. While both do the same basic job—cutting gear teeth they work in different ways.

Gear Hobbing

In Gear Hobbing special tool called a hob is used. It looks like a screw and cuts gear teeth while turning.
The cutter rotates continuously. Both the hob and the gear spin together to cut the teeth.
Hobbing is much faster, so it’s great for making a lot of gears quickly.
Hobbing only works for gears with teeth on the outside.
It is best for simple gear shapes like spur and helical gears.
It is good for basic work but not for very detailed tasks.
It is fast and easy to set up.
It is usually cheaper.
It cuts several teeth at once while spinning.
Hobbing tools last longer because they cut more smoothly.
It is easy to automate, great for large production.

Gear Shaping

In Gear Shaping cutter shaped like the gear to be made is used. It moves up and down to cut one tooth at a time.
The cutter moves in a back-and-forth stroke. The tool moves up and down in straight strokes to make the teeth.
It is a Slower process because it cuts one tooth at a time.It is suitable for small batches or custom-made gears.
Shaping can make gears with teeth on the outside and inside.
It can handle more complex gear designs.
It gives better results when you need high precision.
Shaping takes more time to prepare.
It is costly because they’re more complex.
It cuts one tooth at a time with each stroke
Shaping tools wear out faster because they move up and down all the time.
Shaping is usually more manual and needs more attention.

Conclusion

Learning about gear hobbing vs gear shaping helps you decide which method to use. It all comes down to the type of gear and how many are needed.