Can you use both shafts of a dual shaft stepper at equal loading? Seems like you ought to be able to, but since mechanical engineering isn't my forte, I thought I'd ask the experts.

I'm setting up an X-Y movement using a belt on each side of one axis, with a solid shaft synchronizing the pulleys of the driven ends of the belts. I originally put the stepper off one end of the shaft. But it occurred to me that by mounting the motor in the middle of the shaft path and coupling both ends of a dual shaft motor, the form factor for the whole setup would get smaller.

I'm not adept or experienced enough to tell whether this is a good idea, a dumb one, or just an OK one that requires more fiddling and another $coupler$.

This is intended for plotter-ish or 3d print duty, not cutting tool loads. I'm looking at a NEMA 23 with 1/4" shafting extending from each end for about 16" from driven pulley to driven pulley along the shaft.

Motor in the middle, or motor on one end? And teach me - why?