Abstract: A system comprises a drilling machine; a capacitive probe; and a probe deployment system, mounted to the drilling machine, for moving the capacitive probe inside a hole drilled by the machine to measure the drilled hole at different depths.

Abstract: A machine tool having an automatic tool changer (ATC). The machine tool includes a gantry, a spindle extending from the gantry, a configurable work area, and an ATC adjacent to a front wall of the machine tool. The ATC includes a rotary tool magazine and a plurality of receptacles oriented radially around the rotary tool magazine configured to hold a plurality of cutting tools having cutting edges. The cutting edges of the cutting tools point radially inwardly around the rotary tool magazine, and the cutting tools are removed directly from the automatic tool changer by the spindle and brought to a part to be machined. A tool sensor may be located between the ATC and the spindle to take measurements of the cutting tool. The ATC includes at least one receptacle configured to hold a cutting tool.

Abstract: A tool storage system stores tool holders for use in machine tools. The tool holders hold tools such as milling cutters, taps, drills, reamers, chamfering or deburring tools or the like. The tool holders may have standard taper-shanks. A receptacle is provided for each tool holder. The receptacles are arranged on a generally vertical array and hold the tool holders generally horizontally. The tool holders may be retained by engagement of a pull stud in the receptacle. The generally vertical array arrangement permits storing a large number of tools in a small footprint. In embodiments, a computer system provides functions for managing the tools and/or jobs in which the tools are used.

Abstract: A tool changing unit moves between a magazine position and a changing position to transfer a tool. A machine tool has a plurality of tool changing positions. One of the tool changing positions is selected in advance for changing the tools next time. The tool changing unit and the tool mounted on a tool spindle move to the selected changing position for changing the tools in the selected changing position. Accordingly, the tool changing unit and the tool spindle move respective short distances for changing the tools, thereby shortening the non-machining time of a machine tool combined with the automatic tool changer.

Abstract: Machine-tool thermal displacement correcting device having: a tool-temperature estimating unit for recognizing—based on identification data obtained from a controller for designating, out of tools stowed in the tool-changer tool magazine, an exchange-target tool—the directly-after-use temperature of the ID'd tool, and estimating the tool temperature directly before use, based on the recognized directly-after-use tool temperature and on lapsed time, obtained from the controller, since previous use of the ID'd tool, and for estimating, based on the estimated directly-before-use tool temperature and on the spindle temperature, during-use temperature of the tool; a correction determining unit for estimating, based on the estimated during-use tool temperature, axial thermal displacement of the tool, and determining a correction amount for canceling out the displacement; and a correction executing unit for carrying out correction based on the determined correction amount.

Abstract: A numerical control apparatus having tool cutting edge detecting unit for detecting a cutting edge position of a tool mounted on a tool rest, comprises detection signal determining unit for determining, as effective, only a detection signal that is first inputted from among a plurality of detection signals which are continuously inputted from the tool cutting edge detecting unit. A signal which is detected until a preset time is elapsed after a first signal is received when the tool comes into contact with the touch sensor, and/or until the tool moves a predetermined distance, is determined as erroneous detection by the detection signal determining unit, and the signal is disenabled.

Abstract: A machine tool has a working spindle in which a tool receptacle for tool holders is provided. Furthermore, there is at least one tool-changing arm with a gripper in which a tool holder is held in a peripheral alignment with respect to the gripper in order to transfer this tool holder between its magazine position, which is spaced apart from the tool receptacle, and its working position, in which the tool holder can be clamped into the tool receptacle. A positioning indicator is provided for the peripheral alignment of the tool holder, the indicator indicating a misalignment between the tool holder and gripper.

Abstract: A method and a device for detecting the incorrect chucking of a machine tool capable of easily and surely detecting a chucking error; the method, comprising the steps of measuring, by a sensor (12), the change of a distance (d) between the sensor (12) and the outer peripheral surface of the flange part (2B) of a tool holder (2) installed in a spindle (3) through all around the periphery of the tool holder while rotating the tool holder (2), performing a FFT analysis of the measured data by a CPU (18), extracting a fundamental frequency component, and calculating the amplitude thereof, whereby the eccentric amount of the tool holder (2) can be calculated by using the amplitude of the fundamental frequency component and, when the eccentric amount exceeds a preset allowable value, the tool holder (2) is judged to cause an incorrect chucking.

Abstract: The invention relates to a spindle (9) for a machine tool, having a housing (12) to accommodate an electric motor (11) and a shaft (13) driven by the latter and having a tool holder for a tool (10) for machining workpieces, at least one data acquisition element (2) being provided to record operating and/or state data of the spindle (9), and at least one spindle-integrated data storage element (1) being provided to store the recorded data from the data acquisition element (2).

Abstract: A method and apparatus able to quickly and accurately automatically produce machining programs for complicated shapes of products without being affected by the level of knowledge or experience of the operator. A cutting-condition determination processing unit (20) of an automatic programming apparatus (10) specifies required standard cutting condition data from the type of material and the types of processes designated by an input unit (12) in a cutting condition data table (24) stored in a storage unit (18), specifies the tool data corresponding to the types of tools designated by the input unit in the tool data table (26) stored in the storage unit, and determines the cutting conditions relating to the type of material and the tools from the standard cutting condition data and the tool data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus able to quickly and accurately automatically produce machining programs for complicated shapes of products without being affected by the level of knowledge or experience of the operator. A cutting-condition determination processing unit (20) of an automatic programming apparatus (10) specifies required standard cutting condition data from the type of material and the types of processes designated by an input unit (12) in a cutting condition data table (24) stored in a storage unit (18), specifies the tool data corresponding to the types of tools designated by the input unit in the tool data table (26) stored in the storage unit, and determines the cutting conditions relating to the type of material and the tools from the standard cutting condition data and the tool data.

Abstract: A bending press system provided with a bending press (1) with at least one bending station to mount a plurality of divided tools, tool housing devices (65, 123) to house divided metals to be used on the bending press, tool exchange devices (61, 143) which mount the divided tools on the bending station, and provide a first memory (403) which stores housed positions of each divided tool housed in the housing devices and a second memory (405) which stores the bending line length of the bent part, the flange length and the bending angle of the bent product, a first computation (407) which, based on the bending line length, flange length, and bending angle, computes the tool (cross section shape) type and the length of the bending station, a second computation (409) which, based on the tool type and length of the bending station computes the arrangement of each divided tool on the bending station, and an NC control (411) which controls the tool exchange device so that each divided tool is moved from the housed pos

Abstract: A method and a device for detecting the incorrect chucking of a machine tool capable of easily and surely detecting a chucking error; the method, comprising the steps of measuring, by a sensor (12), the change of a distance (d) between the sensor (12) and the outer peripheral surface of the flange part (2B) of a tool holder (2) installed in a spindle (3) through all around the periphery of the tool holder while rotating the tool holder (2), performing a FFT analysis of the measured data by a CPU (18), extracting a fundamental frequency component, and calculating the amplitude thereof, whereby the eccentric amount of the tool holder (2) can be calculated by using the amplitude of the fundamental frequency component and, when the eccentric amount exceeds a preset allowable value, the tool holder (2) is judged to cause an incorrect chucking.

Abstract: In a complex machining machine tool, a tool rest capable of attachably and detachably installing tool installing inserts thereon is provided, a plural number of virtual tools is set and registered concerning a predetermined at least one tool together with its indexing positional data in tool file, the tool data of the corresponding virtual tool is read out from the tool file on the basis of the machining instruction by the virtual tool stored in machining program, and the corresponding virtual tool is indexed on the tool rest on the basis of the indexing positional data, and then machining with the virtual tool is executed. At the time of machining, it is possible to continue machining with the same tool by only positional indexing without changing the tool. The work for changing tools can be extremely decreased even if machining contents are changed or it is necessary to change tools by tool exhaustion.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed providing improved maintainability for CNC machine tools with serviceable parts. An electronic manual with video, audio, and textual information is stored in memory on a computer system integrated with the CNC tool control. A first register in computer system memory stores predetermined cycle value for at least one serviceable part. A service clock accumulates information collected from tool movement data monitored using the CNC machine tool control in a second register. Maintenance events are indicated for at least one serviceable part based on a comparison of first and second register contents. A graphical display with a graphical representation of the CNC machine shows where the maintenance event has occurred and where maintenance is required with an accompanying alarm indication. Such an indication may be a visual alarm indication superimposed on the graphical display in proximity to location of maintenance event.

Abstract: A system for assembling parts on a sheet to form a panel includes a fixture for holding the sheet and presenting the sheet broadside to a robot. A rack within the reach of the robot holds a plurality of end effectors, each having an interconnect which can be gripped and centered by the robot when it picks up by the end effector. The end effectors include, 1) a drilling end effector having a drill for drilling holes in the sheet on centers determined by movement of the robot; 2) a routing end effector having a router for routing peripheral edge portions of the sheet along lines determined by movement of the router; 3) a probe end effector having a probe for sensing contact with surfaces on an index device mounted on the fixture at a known location to serve as a reference monument.

Abstract: A method of and device for correcting a cutting-edge position of a tool installed in a numerically controlled machine. The device includes a CPU which operates a basic processing program, taking a cutting-edge position correction value thereinto, a judging unit for judging whether a temperature of the main spindle table is in a normal condition or an abnormal condition when exchanging the old tool for the new tool, a normal position correcting unit for detecting a movement amount of tool table necessary to bring the cutting-edge of the new tool into contact with a cutting-edge detecting sensor, an abnormal position correcting unit for detecting the movement amount of tool table necessary to bring the cutting-edge of the old tool into contact with the cutting-edge detecting sensor, and cutting ability adjusting unit for memorizing a dimensional change of the work machined as the cutting ability correction value of the tool in the abnormal condition.

Abstract: To watch the condition of tools mounted on a turret punch press and an automatic tool changing unit, a control device performs a simulation of a punch processing on the basis of an NC program for the turret punch press. On the basis of the simulation, the control device calculate the number of times for which each tool mounted on the punch press performs punchings in the workpiece during the punch processing. From the number of times, the control device determine the abrasion loss of the tools mounted on the punch press and the automatic tool changing unit. The control device is also adapted to store a length by which a tool is shortened by a grinding processing to be made in a tool to sharpen the same.

Abstract: An interactive type numerical control apparatus having an interactive type data input function for controlling the operation of a machine tool by creating a machining program based on input data. A composite tool (3) able to carry out a plurality of different machining operations is selected and an NC sentence is created based on data input designating the tool path of the composite tool (3). With this arrangement, a plurality of different numerically controlled NC machining operations can be effectively executed by the composite tool (3).

Abstract: A "safe" position for a tool changing operation in a numerically controlled machine tool is determined based on specific tool size and machining location. In one embodiment, tool change positions are taught in a teaching operation, and are stored for future reference. During machining, as each tool changing position is encountered, a pointer has advanced to the next such position so that, upon execution of the next tool changing command, the unit moves to the appropriate location. According to other embodiments, the machining program itself is made to store the tool changing positions. This data may be added to the program by an editor on the basis of the information found in the memory, or the data may be added in the initial creation of the program. The data on tool changing positions is then decoded from the machining program when the program is read or executed.

Abstract: The device is provided on a machine tool, wherein the drilling or milling operating head (12) comprises an axially movable spindle (14) and a workpiece hold-down (17), and wherein the working depth is controlled according to the relative position of the tool (16) with respect to the hold-down (17), defined by sensing a reference member (56) by means of the tool (16). To avoid the errors due to the thermal expansion in defining the reference position between the tool and the hold-down, before the reference member (56) is sensed, an electric power supply heats the spindle (14) by sequentially energizing the phases of the statoric coil of the spindle electric motor (76). The reference member (56) comprises a proximity sensor (64) operated by the tool (16) through an air pad piston (67).

Abstract: A tool management method in a factory automation (FA) system uses an FA computer and machining cells. An FA computer such as a cell controller is connected with computer numerically-controlled units via bi-directional communication lines. When data on a tool service life or the like is changed on the cell controller (S1, S2), the changed data on the tool service life is sent to a computer numerically-controlled unit (S3) to update the data on the tool service life stored in the computer numerically-controlled unit (CNC) (S4). Similarly, when the computer numerically-controlled unit changes the number of times the tool has been used or the like, the changed data is sent to the cell controller in the same way. This enables the cell controller to be always informed of the most recent tool management data. And as the computer numerically-controlled units can immediately obtain tool management data that has been changed at the cell controller, a more efficient tool management is ensured.