Abstract: A machine having a vertical main spindle include a bed having a bottom portion and a pair of walls arranged uprightly from both ends of the bottom portion, the sidewalls having horizontal upper mounting surfaces thereon. A first slider is slidably horizontally mounted on the upper mounting surfaces for movement along a first axis. A second slider is slidably horizontally mounted on the first slider and guided by a pair of guide rails arranged on the first slider for movement along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. A jig apparatus is mounted on the bed for clamping a workpiece at a position lower than the first slider. A spindle head that vertically supports a main spindle is mounted on the second slider so that the main spindle is moved along the third axis perpendicular to the fist and second axes between the guide rails.

Abstract: A pallet changing system for a machine tool including a pallet changing device which is horizontally rotatable for exchanging a pallet on the work table of the tool with another pallet in a standby station. A plurality of pallet storing shelves are arranged in a plurality of concentric circular arrays and each shelf has a plurality of pallet supporting racks located one above another. The standby station forms a part of those circular arrays defining a central space surrounded by the racks. A rotary table is rotatably disposed in the center of that space. A pair of guide posts are upstanding from the rotary table. A structure is vertically movably supported on the posts. A pallet handling fork is provided on the structure horizontally movably to and away from the standby station. A pair of guide rails guide the horizontal movement of the fork. The fork has one end defining a pallet supporting portion.

Abstract: Life of a tool used in a machining center having various sorts of tools can be detected by steps that a tool selection code at every execution of NC program is detected and the current-use tool number is stored, the machining distance of each tool is calculated, the machining distance is accumulated per each tool, the cumulative machining distance is compared with predetermined machining life distance to indicate the life of each tool, and then the life of each tool is determined on the basis of a result obtained in the comparing step.

Abstract: A machine tool having an automatic tool changer for transferring tools between a tool magazine and a horizontal tool spindle rotatably mounted in a spindle head and which includes a vertical head which rotatably carries a vertical tool spindle and a horizontal drive shaft connected thereto is removably mounted on a vertical head support. In advance of a machining operation on a top surface of a workpiece, relative movement between the vertical head support and the spindle head is effected in a vertical direction and first and second horizontal directions, so that the vertical head is mounted on the spindle head, with the drive shaft being drivingly connected with the horizontal tool spindle. A tool support station mounted on the vertical head support is provided with two tool grippers each for vertically holding a tool.

Abstract: A numerical controller for a machining center comprising a microprocessor, which selectively executes an automatic programming function and a numerical control function. The microprocessor selectively displays on a CRT display unit various information which instructs an operator to input machining information regarding the blank and finished shapes of a workpiece and the mounting position of the workpiece on a work table. The operator inputs the machining information with a key board-type data input device in response to the information displayed on the CRT screen, and the machining information is stored in a data storage device. Based upon the stored machining information, the microprocessor then displays on the CRT screen the blank shape and the finished shape of the workpiece so that the operator can observe if the machining information has been correctly input.

Abstract: A pallet changer for a machine tool is provided wherein a pallet clamper for guiding a work pallet during transfer movements onto and away from a rotary table of the machine tool is supported at its center portion and vertically movable by a hydraulic cylinder. This cylinder moves the clamper up to unclamp the pallet from the rotary table prior to the transfer movements and moves the clamper down to clamp the pallet on the rotary table upon completion of the transfer movement onto the rotary table. Auxiliary hydraulic cylinders are further provided at either end portions in a pallet transfer direction of the clamper and between the rotary table and the clamper for auxiliarily supporting the clamper while the pallet is unclamped, so that the clamper can be prevented from being deformed due to the weight of a mass of the pallet and workpiece supported only by the clamper during such time.

Abstract: A tool holder having a shank receivable in a machine tool spindle, a tool mounting shell securedly connected to the shank and adjustably movably carrying a cutting tool in a radial direction thereof, and a pair of contact detection members respectively protruded from the outer surface of the mounting shell in opposite directions. The tool holder, when used while received in the machine tool spindle, operates not only to make a bore in a workpiece, but also to be a measuring probe in measuring the diameter of the bore so that a machine tool using the tool holder is able to successively perform boring and measuring operations of the bore. Further, the tool holder incorporates a tool position adjusting mechanism therein.

Abstract: A tool holder incorporating a tool position compensating mechanism is disclosed, which includes a screw shaft axially slidably but non-rotatably supported in a tool mounting shell and formed with a cam surface. A rotary member is rotatably received and threadedly engaged with the screw shaft. A ring shaped internal gear and a reduction gear device including a planet gear are arranged to transmit rotation of a tool spindle to the rotary member at a predetermined reduction gear ratio. When rotated, the rotary member moves the screw shaft in the axial direction which causes adjustment of a tool position in the radial direction by the wedging action of the cam surface.

Abstract: A machine tool includes a tool holder supporting a cutting tool and receivable in a tool spindle. A device is provided in the tool holder to be engageable with a work table for adjusting the radial position of the cutting tool by utilizing the relative movement between the tool spindle and the work table. A contact detecting device detects the contact between the work table and the adjusting device. Relative movement between the tool spindle and the work table is caused to adjust the radial position of the cutting tool after the contact between the work table and the adjusting device is detected.

Abstract: A tool holder incorporating a tool position compensating mechanism which comprises a screw shaft rotatably supported in a tool mounting shell in axial alignment therewith and engageable with a stationary member on a machine tool for relative rotation with the mounting shell is disclosed. A sleeve is threadedly engaged with the screw shaft to be axially moved at the time of relative rotation between the mounting shell and the screw shaft. This sleeve, when axially moved, actuates a transmitting member, supported in the shell, by the wedge action of a cam surface formed thereon, so that a cutting blade support end of a tool secured on the mounting shell is bent to adjust the position of a cutting blade on the tool.

Abstract: A machine tool including a tool holder supporting a boring tool and receivable in a tool spindle. A device is provided in the tool holder for adjusting the radial position of the boring tool by utilizing rotation of the tool spindle. A contact detecting head with a known predetermined diameter is secured to the tool holder in co-axial relationship therewith. A contact detecting device detects the contact between a workpiece bore and the contact detecting head. A bore diameter measuring device measures a diameter of the workpiece bore by causing relative movement between the contact detecting head and the workpiece from a first position to a second position wherein at each of the first and second positions the contact detecting head contacts the workpiece, along a path passing through the center of the workpiece bore. The tool spindle is rotated in response to the measuring device to adjust the radial position of the boring tool.

Abstract: A tool breakage detecting apparatus is provided with a preset counter to be preset with a predetermined value. The content of the counter is subtracted one by one each time either one of a tool and a workpiece to be machined is moved a unit distance toward the other thereof from a cutting movement start position being spaced a predetermined distance from the other thereof. If the content of the counter is reduced an amount corresponding to a distance larger than the predetermined distance, tool breakage is detected.

Abstract: In a machine tool with an automatic tool change apparatus, a tool storage magazine for removably storing a plurality of tools is installed, extending within a column which slidably supports a spindle head. The column is formed with an opening. Means are provided for moving a tool from the magazine outside the column, through the opening therein, for effecting a tool change operation.

Abstract: In a tool transfer apparatus, a pair of support shafts, which have tool transfer arms fixed thereto, are coaxially mounted for rotational and axial movement. A pair of driven gears are respectively formed on the support shafts. A pair of elongated drive gears are engaged with each other and engageable with the driven gears. One of the drive gears is driven by a single drive device. The driven gears are selectively shiftable together into a first predetermined position where the driven gears are rotatable in opposite directions through the drive gears and into a second predetermined position where the driven gears are rotatable in the same direction through one of the drive gears.