Horizontal gear shaping machine with dual shaping heads

A gear shaping machine, comprising:

• a base;
• a column mounted to and movable relative to the base;
• a first gear shaping head mounted to the column;
• a second gear shaping head mounted to the column;
• and
• a linear actuation arrangement operably mounted between the column and each of the first and second gear shaping heads to linearly move each of the first and second gear shaping heads independently of one another and relative to the base along a gear shaping axis;
• wherein each of the first and second gear shaping heads are slidably mounted to the column for translation relative to the column, the first and second gear shaping heads slidably mounted for simultaneous translation relative to the column;
• wherein the column includes a pair of rails in an opposed spaced relationship, the pair of rails positioned on either side of a channel formed in the column, wherein each of the first and second gear shaping heads are commonly mounted to the pair of rails and positioned within the channel such that the first and second gear shaping heads are slidable along the gear shaping axis;
• and
• wherein the channel includes an upper and a lower surface extending away from a back surface, and wherein the linear actuation arrangement includes a first and a second plurality of magnets each respectively mounted on the upper and lower surfaces, and wherein the linear actuation arrangement further comprises an upper and a lower linear motor provided with each of the first and second gear shaping heads, each upper linear motor aligned with the first plurality of magnets, and each lower linear motor aligned with the second plurality of magnets.