Reishauer RZ 1000

$900,000 - $1,500,000 Updated 2026-03-16

Key Specifications

max gear pitch diameter

400 mm (15.7 in)

max face width

500 mm (19.7 in)

gear module range

1 - 10 mm

gear types

External spur, external helical

grinding method

Continuous generating gear grinding (Wälzschleifen) — threaded worm wheel

wheel type

Dressable CBN (vitrified or electroplated) or conventional abrasive

Overview

The Reishauer RZ 1000 is a large-capacity continuous generating gear profile grinding machine from Reishauer AG, the Zurich, Switzerland-based manufacturer that invented and perfected the Wälzschleifen (continuous generating gear grinding) process. The RZ 1000 handles external spur and helical gears up to 400 mm pitch diameter, targeting the larger end of the automotive and commercial vehicle powertrain gear spectrum along with industrial gearbox gears, wind turbine stage gears, and aerospace gearbox components.

Continuous generating gear grinding — Reishauer's signature process — uses a threaded (worm) grinding wheel that meshes continuously with the rotating gear blank in a gear-to-hob-like generating engagement. Unlike profile grinding (which grinds one or two teeth at a time with a formed wheel), continuous generating grinding maintains constant contact across multiple teeth simultaneously as both the wheel and workpiece rotate in synchrony. This process produces dramatically higher material removal rates per unit time and exceptional gear accuracy — Reishauer's systems routinely achieve DIN 3-4 quality (ISO 3-4) in production conditions, which is among the best achievable in manufacturing.

The RZ 1000 accommodates gears up to 400 mm pitch diameter and 500 mm face width, with module range from 1 to 10 mm — covering the majority of automotive transmission gears, truck and bus gearbox gears, and lower-module industrial gears. The machine uses dressable CBN wheels (electroplated or vitrified bond) or conventional dressable grinding wheels depending on the production volume and gear family. For the highest-volume automotive applications, Reishauer's system achieves exceptional wheel life through optimized wheel specification and dressing strategy.

The control is Siemens SINUMERIK 840D sl with Reishauer's proprietary GearPro software, which includes complete gear parameter input (number of teeth, module, pressure angle, helix angle, quality target, profile modifications such as crowning and tip relief), automatic program generation, dressing cycle management, and statistical process control integration. The RZ 1000 is designed for integration into transfer lines and flexible manufacturing cells with automatic part loading and unloading via standard robot interfaces.

Full Specifications

Parameter	Value
Max Gear Pitch Diameter	400 mm (15.7 in)
Max Face Width	500 mm (19.7 in)
Gear Module Range	1 - 10 mm
Gear Types	External spur, external helical
Grinding Method	Continuous generating gear grinding (Wälzschleifen) — threaded worm wheel
Wheel Type	Dressable CBN (vitrified or electroplated) or conventional abrasive
Gear Quality	DIN 3 - 4 / ISO 3 - 4 achievable in production
Profile Modifications	Crowning, tip relief, lead modification — programmable
CNC Control	Siemens SINUMERIK 840D sl with Reishauer GearPro software
Automation Interface	Standard robot loading/unloading interface
Process Monitoring	Integrated SPC — automatic feedback to process parameters
In Process Measurement	Optional — post-process Klingelnberg or Zeiss gear measurement integration
Hardware Options	On-board measuring with closed loop functionality
Cnc Control	Siemens SINUMERIK ONE
Workpiece Diameter Max	1000 mm
Workpiece Diameter Min	60 mm
Number Of Workpiece Teeth Max	800
Number Of Workpiece Teeth Min	5
Generating Grinding Module Range	0.5 – 10.0 mm
Profile Grinding Module Range	0.5 – 14 mm
Shaft Length Max	800 mm
Workpiece Weight Max	1200 kg
Workpiece Rpm Max	600 min⁻¹
Swivel Angle Grinding Head	± 45°
Grinding Stroke Max	300 mm
Operating Speed Max	80 m/s
Grinding Wheel Diameter Max	300 mm
Grinding Wheel Width	145/160 mm
Dressing Rolls Diameter	123 – 160 mm
Machine Weight	15 500 kg

Specifications sourced from reishauer.com — verified 2026-03-28

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

Continuous generating grinding achieves DIN 3-4 gear quality in production — the highest accuracy level routinely achievable in volume gear grinding
400 mm pitch diameter capacity covers automotive, commercial vehicle, and lower-module industrial gears in a single machine
Continuous generating process produces dramatically higher throughput than profile grinding for the same gear size and quality target
Profile modification capability (crowning, tip relief, lead modification) allows gear engineers to program noise and load optimization directly into the grinding process
Reishauer GearPro software provides straightforward gear parameter input with automatic program generation — no manual G-code programming required
Reishauer's 150+ years of gear grinding specialization brings unmatched application engineering depth for process development and troubleshooting

Limitations

Investment cost in the $900K-$1.5M range requires high-volume production commitment to justify — not suited for low-volume gear grinding
Continuous generating grinding requires worm grinding wheels that are more expensive and complex to specify and dress than profile wheels used in simpler gear grinders
Limited to external spur and helical gears — internal gears and large-module (above 10 mm) industrial gears require different grinding approaches
High process complexity — optimizing wheel specification, dressing strategy, and process parameters for a new gear family requires significant application engineering support
Reishauer's service network, while extensive in Europe and Asia, requires advance planning for North American field service calls

Best For

Automotive transmission manufacturers grinding high-volume external spur and helical gears for passenger car and truck manual, automatic, and EV transmission applications Commercial vehicle gearbox manufacturers grinding truck and bus transmission gears where DIN 3-4 quality is required for NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) performance Aerospace gearbox subcontractors grinding transmission and accessory drive gears for turboprop, helicopter, and turbofan gearboxes to the highest accuracy requirements Industrial gearbox manufacturers grinding high-accuracy module 1-10 external gears for precision power transmission applications Wind turbine stage gear manufacturers requiring the combination of large pitch diameter capacity and highest DIN quality achievable

Frequently Asked Questions

01 What is the price of a Reishauer RZ 1000?

The Reishauer RZ 1000 typically prices between $900,000 and $1,500,000 new, depending on wheel configuration, automation, and measurement integration options. The investment is typically justified by high-volume automotive or commercial vehicle transmission gear production.

02 What is continuous generating gear grinding and why is it faster than profile grinding?

In continuous generating gear grinding, a threaded worm grinding wheel meshes continuously with the rotating gear blank — both rotating in precise synchrony — so that multiple teeth are in contact with the grinding wheel simultaneously at all times. This is analogous to hobbing but with a grinding wheel instead of a hob. Profile grinding, by contrast, grinds one or two tooth spaces at a time with a formed wheel, requiring an indexing step between each tooth. Continuous generating grinding's simultaneous multi-tooth engagement produces dramatically higher material removal rates and better surface consistency.

03 What gear quality does the Reishauer RZ 1000 achieve?

The RZ 1000 achieves DIN 3-4 (ISO 3-4) gear accuracy in production conditions. This is the highest accuracy level routinely produced in volume gear manufacturing, meeting the stringent NVH requirements of modern automotive transmissions and the precision requirements of aerospace gearboxes.

04 Can the RZ 1000 grind profile modifications like crowning and tip relief?

Yes. Reishauer's GearPro software allows gear engineers to program profile modifications including lead crowning, profile crowning, tip relief, root relief, and helix angle modifications directly into the gear grinding program. These modifications are applied during the continuous generating process and allow the finished gear's contact pattern and noise behavior to be precisely engineered.

05 How does the RZ 1000 compare to the Reishauer RZ 408?

Both machines use Reishauer's continuous generating grinding process. The RZ 408 handles gears up to 408 mm pitch diameter at high production rates — it is the core high-production automotive gear grinder. The RZ 1000's name reflects a different design specification focused on 400 mm capacity with optimized configurations for industrial and commercial vehicle gears. Specific capability details should be confirmed with Reishauer for the latest machine configurations, as Reishauer continuously refines its product range.