:To study the rock cutting characteristics of spherical-tooth hob, the rock cutting process induced by the spherical-tooth hob is analyzed based on the finite element simulation and the rock cutting experiments.Then the rock breaking states, rock cutting forces and rock cutting efficiency caused by the spherical-tooth hob under different penetrations are obtained. The results show that a cutting groove and a series of pits in the cutting groove will be produced when the penetration exceeds 9 mm. At such penetration, the spherical teeth and the cutter ring can cooperate to cut rock. The cutting forces curves show obvious fluctuation and the peak