Universal machine for the soft machining of bevel gears and corresponding method

An apparatus comprising:

• a turning machine (22) having a workpiece spindle (22.1) and a counter-holder (23) arranged coaxially to a rotational axis (B1) of the workpiece spindle (22.1) for coaxially clamping a workpiece blank (K1);
• a tool base (24) which is displaceable relative to the workpiece blank (K1) held in the turning machine (22) and comprising a multifunctional tool holder (25) mounted to rotate about an axis (B2) extending substantially parallel to the rotational axis of the workpiece spindle (B1), wherein the multifunctional tool holder (25) is configured for fastening at least one tool and subjecting the workpiece blank (K1) to a turning process;
• a tool housing (26) displaceable relative to the workpiece blank (K1) held in the turning machine (22), with a milling head (27) chucked in the tool housing (26), wherein the milling head (27) is mounted to rotate about a milling head axis (B3) that is arranged at an angle (W) adjustable with respect to the rotational axis of the workpiece spindle (22.1), and the milling head (27) is equipped with a set of cutters protruding from an axial end face thereof with respect to said milling head axis (B3), the tool housing (26) also being arranged to advance the milling head (27) towards the workpiece blank (K1) to engage the set of cutters with the workpiece blank in order to perform toothing machining of the workpiece blank (K1);
• and
• a CNC controller configured for controlling different movement processes of the tool base (24), the multifunctional tool holder (25), the tool housing (26), and the workpiece spindle (22.1) in order to subject the workpiece blank (K1) firstly to a turning process with a tool fixed to the multifunctional tool holder (25) and then to the toothing machining with the milling head (27), such that the apparatus (20) is configured for producing a bevel gear from the workpiece blank (K1).