Custom-made, precise gear cutting tools – gear shaper cutters, gear hobs, power skiving tools – since 1924.
Dathan Tool and Gauge Co. Ltd
Meltham, Holmfirth, West Yorkshire · Shanghai (Jiading) · Neukirchen-VluynNew on Amplifa
About Dathan Tool & Gauge
Dathan Tool and Gauge is a manufacturer based in Meltham, West Yorkshire (UK), specialising in the production of custom precision gear cutting tools. The product portfolio includes gear shaper cutters, gear hobs, power skiving tools, cell cutters and machine adaptors for gear cutting machines. Tool geometries are calculated using proprietary development software based on involute and generating geometry; production is carried out predominantly on CNC profile grinding machines, nine of which were built in-house, supplemented by a Schneeberger machine for precision grinding of carbide skiving tools. In addition to new production, Dathan offers full inspection, re-sharpening, edge preparation, coating, reverse engineering, technical consulting and stockholding. Its customers come from the automotive, aerospace, power generation, oil and gas, and construction and agricultural machinery industries. In addition to its headquarters in Meltham (since 1974), the company maintains an office in Shanghai (since 2016) and the Dathan Verzahnungswerkzeuge GmbH service centre in Neukirchen-Vluyn (Germany) for re-sharpening, edge preparation and coating.
- Site
- HD9 5RU Meltham, Holmfirth, West Yorkshire
- Processes
- Manufacture of gear shaper cutters, Manufacture of gear hobs, Manufacture of power skiving tools, Full inspection of tools, Re-sharpening of gear shaper cutters, power skiving tools and hobs, Coating / re-coating service, Edge preparation, Reverse engineering of gear cutting tools
- Materials
- Carbide, Carbide (Tungsten Carbide), CNC Profile Grinding, CNC Sharpening, Edge Preparation, Coating / Re-Coating, Reverse Engineering
- Certificates
- Full inspection of new tools, Klingenberg gear measuring machines, Optical inspection (damage detection), ISO 9001 (verifiable), IATF 16949 (verifiable)
- Founded
- 1924
- Industries
- Automotive, Aerospace, Power Generation / Energy Technology, Oil & Gas, Construction Industry / Construction Machinery, Agricultural Machinery
- 01
Bespoke Design / Reverse Engineering
- 02
CNC profile grinding of the tools
- 03
Edge preparation
- 04
Coating / Re-coating
- 05
Full inspection
- 06
Re-sharpening / Reprofiling
- 07
Stockholding
- 08
Delivery
Materials & Processes
Carbide (Tungsten Carbide)
Used for power skiving tools, precision ground on a Schneeberger machine.
CNC Profile Grinding
Core process for gear shaper cutters, gear hobs and skiving tools on in-house and external CNC profile grinding machines.
CNC Sharpening
Re-sharpening and reprofiling of gear shaper cutters, power skiving tools and hobs.
Edge Preparation
Cutting edge preparation to increase tool life.
Coating / Re-Coating
Coating service for new and re-sharpened gear cutting tools.
Reverse Engineering
Reproduction of existing gear cutting tools to keep equipment in operation.
Locations
Meltham (Headquarters)
GBHeadquarters, development and production (since 1974)
- Materials
- Steel, carbide
- 9 CNC profile grinding machines (predominantly in-house built)
- Schneeberger CNC grinding machine for carbide power skiving tools
- CNC sharpening machine
- TG4 bespoke CNC machine for lip and chamfer sharpening
- 2 Klingenberg inspection machines
- Optical inspection device
- Climate-controlled CNC area
Neukirchen-Vluyn
DEService centre / sharpening centre – Dathan Verzahnungswerkzeuge GmbH (established 2021, wholly owned since 2022)
- Re-sharpening, edge preparation and coating for gear shaper cutters, power skiving tools and hobs
Shanghai (Jiading)
CNSales and service office (since 2016)
- New production of hobs, shaper cutters, skiving and cell cutters
- Reprofiling, re-sharpening, recoating
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacture of gear shaper cuttersEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Manufacture of gear hobsEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Manufacture of power skiving toolsEngineering | – | – | – | – | Carbide |
| Full inspection of toolsInspection | – | – | – | – | – |
| Re-sharpening of gear shaper cutters, power skiving tools and hobsMachining | – | – | – | – | – |
| Coating / re-coating serviceSurface | – | – | – | – | – |
| Edge preparationSurface | – | – | – | – | – |
| Reverse engineering of gear cutting toolsEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Bespoke design / technical and design consulting for gear cutting toolsEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| ReprofilingMachining | – | – | – | – | – |
| Stockholding of toolsEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Lip and chamfer sharpeningMachining | – | – | – | – | – |
8 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CNC profile grinding machine (in-house built) | Dathan (in-house) | 9 | – | – | Meltham, UK |
| CNC grinding machine for carbide power skiving tools | Schneeberger | 1 | – | 2014 | Meltham, UK |
| CNC sharpening machine | – | 1 | – | 2012 | Meltham, UK |
| Klingenberg (inspection measuring machine) | Klingenberg | 2 | – | – | Meltham, UK |
| Bespoke CNC machine TG4 for lip and chamfer sharpening | TG4 | 1 | – | – | Meltham, UK |
| Conversion of a manual grinding machine to CNC profile grinding machine | – | 2 | – | 2020, 2023 | Meltham, UK |
| New CNC profile grinding machine (externally manufactured) | – | 1 | – | 2025 | Meltham, UK |
| Optical inspection device | – | 1 | – | 2013 | Meltham, UK |
Additional services
Quality
The inspection department has two Klingenberg gear measuring machines and an optical inspection device for detecting microscopic damage; new tools undergo a full inspection. Tools are supported throughout their entire life cycle with re-sharpening, edge preparation and re-coating before and after use.
| Evidence | Meltham |
|---|---|
| Full inspection of new tools | |
| Klingenberg gear measuring machines | |
| Optical inspection (damage detection) | |
| ISO 9001 (verifiable) | |
| IATF 16949 (verifiable) |