First Gear Expanding in Fort Wayne

October 2, 2014

News Release

FORT WAYNE, Ind. -- First Gear Engineering and Technology has driven its inspection process into the next dimension with the installation of the Next Dimension 300 and the Next Dimension 165 from the Process Equipment Company (PECo)*.

The ND300 and the ND165 are the latest iterations of the precision gear inspection equipment introduced in 1997 and manufactured in the U.S. by PECo and represent an investment of over $600,000 by First Gear.

“The PECo ND300 and ND165 are extremely accurate gear inspection systems,” said Greg Leffler, President of First Gear. “With all of the operations we perform in producing highly accurate and precise gears, we need to continually invest in the latest technology to be able to certify our quality through the final inspection process. The PECo ND300 and the ND165 give our customers that assurance within two microns of a NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) certified artifact.”

Designed to maximize uptime and throughput, the ND300 gear measurement system provides the ability to measure a gear or related features in relation to functional data and/or compare measurements to manufacturing datums. This often eliminates the need for expensive tooling and fixtures, allowing First Gear to offer all customers the best inspection process regardless of gear size and/or quantity.

First Gear’s inspection capabilities include standard tests such as index, pitch, helix, profile and tooth thickness as well as advanced full root scanning and surface finish. All of the above tests can be inspected with standard analyzed parameters (AGMA, DIN) and accuracy. True 3D measurements in an error-compensated work envelope are produced using PECo’s proprietary data acquisition algorithms and Renishaw® 3D probe technology.

In addition to the over $600,000 upgrade to the gear inspection machinery, First Gear has added five new employees in the last 12 months.

“Our reputation for quality and timely delivery is spreading among our target markets,” stated Leffler. “We are investing in our people and our capabilities to insure we continue to provide the quality and service our customers demand.

Source: First Gear Engineering and Technology Inc.