Abstract: The slide 14 carries a support 18 for a plurality of tools, which is secured to a sleeve 34 rotatable and axially slidable on a body 38. The slide 14 carries a series of hydrostatic bearings 36, 39 and 87 to guide rotatably the sleeve 34 and axially the body 38. The sleeve 34 is antulrly tied to the body 38 through a normally closed front clutch 42, 43, which is opened by axially displacing the sleeve 34 with respect to the body 38, through a hydraulic device 44, 47. A reversible electric motor 52 is operated for rotating the sleeve 34 to select the tool, and may be numerically controlled for continuously displacing the tool during a working operation.

Abstract: The mechanical machining center is associated with a magazine for the tools in which the tools are collected in two horizontal rows superposed on vertical frames (pallets) transportable by means of a rotatable handling device from the magazine to a position in which an exchange arm withdraws the tools and brings them to the spindle of the working head. The magazine is composed of a fixed structure with a variable number of modules disposed in the form of a fan around the rotatable handling device and in which the pallets complete with tools are accommodated. The pallets may be transported manually or with the aid of wire-guided trolleys from a central magazine to each module. The handling device comprises a rotatable carousel structure on which two cage-like frames for supporting the pallets are pivoted in diametrically opposed position.Normally, one of the two frames is in a loading position, while the other frame is in an exchange position close to the exchanger arm.