Dual Ended, Full Form Tooth Generating Gear Cutter and Associated Cutting Insert

A gear cutter for cutting a gap between adjacent teeth of a gear, the gear cutter comprising:

• a body member that is configured to be rotatable about a rotational axis, the body member having a perimeter;
• and
• at least one cutting insert mounted to the perimeter of the body member and including a forward face, a rear face and a center portion, the cutting insert having a first end and a second end each of which is configured to cut a full involute gear form geometry, the first end including first and second side faces that are configured to converge inwardly toward each other as they extend away from the center portion to a first tip portion that interconnects the first and second side faces, the first and second side faces and the first tip portion intersecting with the forward face so as to define a first cutting edge, the second end including third and fourth side faces that are configured to converge inwardly toward each other as they extend away from the center portion to a second tip portion, the third and fourth side faces and second tip portion intersecting with the forward face so as to define a cutting edge, each of the first cutting edge and the second cutting edge having a full involute configuration that matches a desired configuration of the gap between adjacent teeth;
• wherein the cutting insert is mounted on the body member such that the first and second cutting edges of the cutting insert extend at a negative rake angle relative to a radial line of the body member.