Provided is a clamp system with enhanced functionality achieved by detecting the behavior of an object to be clamped, using a stroke-end position detector that has been used for switching stroke operations. A clamp device 1 has an output member 12 which executes a stroke movement causing a change in the distance by which a coil 15 is inserted into a hole 14 having a bottom. A converter 23 outputs a measurement value of the inductance of the coil 15. The inductance of the coil 15 when a work W has been clamped by the output member 12 is stored in a work clamp point memory 22e, and a clamp area indicating a variation range permitted with respect to a work clamp point is set in a clamp area memory. During processing of the work, a control unit 2 measures the inductance of the coil 15, determines whether the work clamp point is within the range of the clamp area, and, if the range is exceeded, issues a signal indicating an emergency stop.

Tool bodies, tools and machines for operating the tool include electronic circuits for providing data, collecting data, analyzing data and for controlling machines based on such data. Tool bodies and tools may include electronic circuits having data collecting sensors, which may be embedded in a housing with the electronic circuit and/or positioned outside of such a housing. Sensors include temperature sensors, motion sensors, strain sensors, moisture sensors, electrical resistance sensors, position sensors, antennas, and other components.

A power tool having multiple wireless communication states and a method of wirelessly communicating by a power tool. The power tool includes a motor, a battery pack interface that selectively receives a battery pack, a backup power source, and a wireless communication controller coupled to the backup power source and the battery pack interface. The wireless communication controller operates in a connectable state when coupled to a battery pack and transmits tool operational data to the external device and receives tool configuration data from the external device. The wireless communication controller operates in an advertisement state when the wireless communication controller is coupled to and powered by the backup power source. In the advertisement state, the wireless communication controller is configured to transmit the unique tool identifier. The external device may also display an indication of the communication state of the power tool.

A power tool having multiple wireless communication states and a method of wirelessly communicating by a power tool. The power tool includes a motor, a battery pack interface that selectively receives a battery pack, a backup power source, and a wireless communication controller coupled to the backup power source and the battery pack interface. The wireless communication controller operates in a connectable state when coupled to a battery pack and transmits tool operational data to the external device and receives tool configuration data from the external device. The wireless communication controller operates in an advertisement state when the wireless communication controller is coupled to and powered by the backup power source. In the advertisement state, the wireless communication controller is configured to transmit the unique tool identifier. The external device may also display an indication of the communication state of the power tool.

A method and a machine for automatically changing a disc tool to a tool holder of an automated machine working with the disc tools is disclosed. The method includes in the disc tool replacement machine: determining that the tool holder is in a replacement area in the disc tool replacement machine; unfastening a fixing member of the tool holder by applying an unfastening force to the fixing member, wherein the fixing member fixes a disc tool to a backing plate of the tool holder through a through hole at a centre of the disc tool; removing the disc tool from the tool holder after said unfastening; inserting a new disc tool to the tool holder; and fastening the fixing member of the tool holder by applying a fastening force to the fixing member, thus fixing the disc tool to the backing plate of the tool holder through the through hole.

An apparatus for interchanging welding tips of a spot welding gun. The apparatus replaces a welding tip installed in a robot arm and includes welding tip removal componentry combined with the robot arm, welding tip mounting structure combined with one side of the welding tip removal componentry, and a welding tip supply spaced apart from the welding gun at a specific distance and configured to supply a welding tip to the welding tip mounting componentry.

An apparatus for interchanging welding tips of a spot welding gun. The apparatus replaces a welding tip installed in a robot arm and includes welding tip removal componentry combined with the robot arm, welding tip mounting structure combined with one side of the welding tip removal componentry, and a welding tip supply spaced apart from the welding gun at a specific distance and configured to supply a welding tip to the welding tip mounting componentry.

In a measurement method, a terminal is brought into contact with an electrode in an electrostatic chuck in contact with a substrate that is grounded. Further, the terminal, the electrostatic chuck and the substrate are fixed, and a current value and a voltage value are measured using an ammeter and a voltmeter, respectively, that are connected to the terminal. In addition, whether or not the terminal and the electrode are electrically connected is determined from a slope of the current value and/or a peak current value based on the measured current value and the voltage value.

A method includes receiving a first alignment state indication at a portable handheld tool from an alignment tool. The first alignment state indication indicating an alignment state of a workpiece relative to a reference that is independent and distinct from the portable handheld tool. The method also includes, based on the first alignment state indication, enabling a first selectable drive state of a drive system of the portable handheld tool. The method further includes actuating the drive system responsive to user input, where the drive system is limited based on the first selectable drive state.

A tool changer for a machine tool is provided with a command unit for outputting a change command for a tool storage position to a control unit, which turns a tool magazine with a tool mounted on a spindle and controls an index unit to index a predetermined tool grip portion to a tool change position on receiving the change command for the tool storage position from the command unit.