Gleason Genesis 260GX

Gleason does not publish pricing for the Genesis GX line — every machine is quoted against a specific gear program. On a 260GX the biggest cost drivers are the automation (conveyor versus palletizer, Gleason-integrated versus a third-party interface), whether you specify dressable corundum or non-dressable CBN tooling, and whether the closed-loop link to a Gleason metrology machine is part of the same order. A quote for the grinder alone will not cover workholding, the inspection machine, installation or training, so ask for the full cell to be priced. Used Genesis GX machines are scarce given how few are built, and condition of the grinding and workpiece spindles matters far more than model year.

The 260GX extends the 200GX platform to handle gears up to 260 mm diameter and module 8, compared to 200 mm on the 200GX. Both share the dual-spindle architecture, two-zone grinding concept, and Quik-Flex Plus workholding. The 260GX has a slightly longer chip-to-chip time (~5 sec vs 4.5 sec) due to the larger workpiece handling. Choose the 260GX when your gear program includes parts in the 200-260 mm range; the 200GX is more cost-effective for gears under 200 mm.

Gleason's two-zone grinding uses a single threaded grinding worm with two distinct zones: a roughing section and a polishing section. The workpiece passes through both zones in a single grinding cycle, eliminating the need for a separate finishing or honing operation. The roughing zone removes the majority of stock at higher feed rates, while the polishing zone achieves final surface quality at lighter parameters. This approach reduces cycle time and eliminates a downstream process step.

The Genesis 260GX is designed primarily for external cylindrical gears (spur and helical). Internal gear grinding requires different machine architecture. Gleason offers dedicated internal gear finishing solutions in their product line. The 260GX handles external gears with various profile modifications including crowning, tip relief, root relief, and twist correction.

Gleason's closed-loop system connects the Genesis grinding machines with Gleason gear inspection machines. After grinding, gears are measured on the inspection system, which generates correction data. This data feeds back automatically to the grinding machine's CNC, adjusting grinding parameters to correct any deviations from the target profile. The system operates continuously during production, preventing quality drift and reducing scrap rates to near zero for in-specification gears.

CBN wheels offer significantly longer wheel life (10-50x) and more consistent geometry between dressings, making them ideal for high-volume production of a single gear type. Dressable wheels cost less per wheel and can be re-profiled for different gear geometries, making them better for shops running multiple part numbers with frequent changeovers. Many production shops use CBN for their highest-volume parts and dressable wheels for shorter runs and new product development.