Abstract: Ball screws are moved axially to move a spindle unit in directions X, Y to position a cutter mounted on the spindle unit. Support arm assemblies which support the spindle unit are also moved. Then, a slide table which supports the support arm assemblies is moved in a direction Z to cause the cutter to machine a workpiece.

Abstract: A rotary transfer system includes an attitude converting station for automatically changing the attitude of a pallet with a workpiece supported thereon into a predetermined attitude, at least two machining stations for machining the workpiece with machine tools, and a feeder for feeding the pallet along an arcuate feed path from the attitude converting station successively to the machining stations. The annular feed path has a pair of upper and lower arcuate movable rails disposed in each of the attitude converting station and the machining stations, and a pair of upper and lower arcuate fixed rails aligned with the movable rails.

Abstract: A machine tool includes a first movable base movable in a horizontal plane in a first direction, a second movable base mounted on the first movable base and movable toward and away from a workpiece in the horizontal plane in a second direction transverse to the first direction, a support base mounted on the movable base, and a spindle stock supported on the support base and rotatable about a center in a vertical plane. A spindle device is mounted on an outer end of the spindle stock at a position off the center. The spindle stock may be an arm rotatable about a longitudinal center thereof, or substantially disc-shaped. The support base has an annular support member disposed on a front surface thereof coaxially with the center, the spindle stock includes a slidable member held in slidable contact with the annular support member.

Abstract: A tool changer has a pair of chucking units mounted respectively on the ends of a tool arm and movable in mutually opposite directions for simultaneously gripping tools, the tool arm being angularly movable 180.degree. for changing tools. The tool changer is used in a machine tool having a spindle device for holding and rotating a tool about its own axis and a tool magazine for storing a plurality of tools to be mounted, one at a time, on the spindle device. The tool changer comprises a tool arm disposed between the spindle device and the tool magazine, the tool arm being angularly movable about an axis parallel to an axis of the spindle device and movable along the first-mentioned axis, a pair of chucking unit mounted respectively on ends of the tool arm and movable in mutually opposite directions passing through the first-mentioned axis for simultaneously gripping tools, respectively, and a mechanism for actuating the tool arm and the chucking units.