The invention relates to a method for shaping a periodic structure, in particular a toothing on a workpiece, wherein a lifting mechanism lifts the shaping tool, within the working stroke, off of the workpiece for the return stroke after a machining operation, characterized by a rotational angular region of the lifting cam functionally assigned to a circumferential cam profile region of a lifting cam, the same driven to rotate by a motor, of the lifting mechanism, which circumferential cam profile region determines the engagement distance between the shaping tool and the workpiece in a working stroke portion of a stroke cycle, wherein the rotational angular region of the lifting cam is passed through a further timealbeit in the opposite direction of rotationduring the same stroke cycle.