Machine and method for producing bevel gears

A method of machining bevel and hypoid gears on a machine including a column, a workpiece spindle movably secured to a first substantially vertical surface area of said column, and a tool spindle movably secured to a second substantially vertical surface area of said column, said method comprising:

• mounting a tool on said tool spindle;
• mounting a workpiece on said workpiece spindle;
• rotating said tool around a tool axis;
• rotating said workpiece around a workpiece axis;
• moving one of said workpiece spindle and said tool spindle relative to said column in a vertical direction;
• moving one of said workpiece spindle and said tool spindle relative to said column in a first horizontal direction;
• moving one of said workpiece spindle and said tool spindle relative to said column in a second horizontal direction;
• pivoting at least one of said workpiece spindle and said tool spindle relative to said column around at least one vertical pivot axis;
• and
• engaging said tool with said workpiece to machine a tooth slot in said workpiece.

A machine for manufacturing bevel and hypoid gears comprising:

• a column having first and second substantially vertical surface areas;
• a workpiece spindle;
• a tool spindle;
• means for movably supporting said workpiece spindle on said first substantially vertical surface area and said tool spindle on said second substantially vertical surface area on said column for relative translational movement along first, second, and third linear directions;
• and
• means for pivotably supporting at least one of said workpiece spindle and said tool spindle for relative angular movement.