Cutting machine for gears, splines, and other shapes

A gear shaping machine, comprising:

• a saddle defining a stroke axis;
• a linear guide arrangement mounted to the saddle;
• a ram slidable on the linear guide arrangement along the stroke axis;
• a spindle carried by the ram;
• and
• at least one linear motor supported by the saddle and acting on the ram, the at least one linear motor operable to magnetically reciprocate the ram and the spindle back and forth along the stroke axis in unison relative to the saddle such that the magnetic force provided by the at least one linear motor is directly responsible for said reciprocation of the ram and the spindle;
• and
• wherein the at least one linear motor includes first and second linear motors in opposed spaced relationship and in a first symmetric orientation about the stroke axis, and wherein the ram carries at least one first magnet and at least one second magnet in an opposed spaced relationship and in a second symmetric orientation about the stroke axis;
• and
• wherein the first and second linear motors are mourned on a motor mourning structure extending away from the saddle, the motor mounting structure having an opening aligned, along the shaping axis, the opening situated vertically above the spindle along the stroke axis such that the stroke axis extends through the opening, the first and second linear motors mounted within the opening, and wherein the ram reciprocates within the opening and is interposed between the first and second linear motors.