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.

The present invention relates to a machining center, and more specifically to a horizontal multi-spindle machining center, in which 2-axis (Y- and Z-axis) or 3-axis (X-, Y- and Z-axis) transfer drive units are disposed in the machining center installed to machine workpieces, in which a ram equipped with spindles is moved in the up-down, front-back, and/or left-right directions of the workpieces, in which the spindles are configured to include a plurality of spindles, i.e., 2 to 8 spindles, so that a plurality of workpieces may be machined simultaneously, and in which tool change is simultaneously performed for tools fastened to the plurality of spindles and configured to machine workpieces by using an auto tool changer (ATC), so that tool change speed may be improved and thus manufacturing efficiency may be improved.

A manufacturing fixture process, and associated device for practicing the disclosed process, includes supporting a component during manufacturing by at least one rest pad, and sensing and transmitting a force signal exerted on the rest pad by the component during manufacturing by at least one sensor associated with the at least one rest pad. The process further includes clamping the component onto the rest pad by a clamping component configured to rigidly hold the component, receiving and monitoring the force exerted on the rest pad by a force monitoring system configured to receive and monitor the signal indicating the force exerted on the rest pad, as well as determine whether the force exerted on the rest pad is within a predetermined range, exceeds the predetermined range, and/or is below the predetermined range, and outputting the force exerted on the rest pad with an output device.

In order to provide a tool changer that can detect an entry of a foreign substance into a turret mechanism portion or wear of a turret mechanism part, a tool changer of the present invention includes a reference phase false detection sensing portion that monitors load variations which occur in a turret drive source and detects an entry of a foreign substance into the turret mechanism portion based on a difference between the load variations and a reference load used as a reference. Moreover, the reference phase false detection sensing portion can also detect the progress of wear of the turret mechanism part based on the integral of the absolute value of a difference between the load variations which occur in the turret drive source and the reference load used as a reference.

A method and a device can measure machine error of an axis of rotation in a tool post having a touch probe without restriction of an angular range of an angle of rotation. Directions of a measurement plane and a measurement axis in a five-axis measurement are switched in correspondence to a range of the angle of rotation in a touch probe. The five-axis measurement is carried out by setting a position in a direction of a measurement axis in a measurement plane to a position where a reference sphere does not interfere with a lever rod of the touch probe as occasion demands. The five-axis measurement is carried out, for example, by setting the measurement plane to a position which is perpendicular to a line connecting an estimated center of the reference sphere and a center of a tip sphere or the lever rod of the touch probe.

A method and a device can measure machine error of an axis of rotation in a tool post having a touch probe without restriction of an angular range of an angle of rotation. Directions of a measurement plane and a measurement axis in a five-axis measurement are switched in correspondence to a range of the angle of rotation in a touch probe. The five-axis measurement is carried out by setting a position in a direction of a measurement axis in a measurement plane to a position where a reference sphere does not interfere with a lever rod of the touch probe as occasion demands. The five-axis measurement is carried out, for example, by setting the measurement plane to a position which is perpendicular to a line connecting an estimated center of the reference sphere and a center of a tip sphere or the lever rod of the touch probe.

A machine tool includes: a cover; a door; a drive mechanism; a detection unit; and an operation panel that receives an operation for the machine tool. A control device of the machine tool performs: processing to control the drive mechanism such that the door is opened, based on the operation panel receiving a first opening operation; processing to obtain an actual position from the detection unit and store the actual position as an opening position of the door, based on the operation panel receiving an operation to determine a position; and processing to control the drive mechanism such that the door is located at the opening position, based on the operation panel receiving a second opening operation. An opening speed of the door during the first opening operation is slower than an opening speed of the door during the second opening operation.

A machine tool includes a tool magazine configured to hold a plurality of tools, the tool magazine having a rotary unit rotatable around a predetermined rotary axis and a measured portion provided in the rotary unit, a sensor disposed outside of the rotary unit in a radial direction that is perpendicular to the rotary axis, and configured to detect the measured portion, and a controller configured to detect a position of an origin point of the rotary unit based on a result of the detection by the sensor.

A machine tool includes a tool magazine configured to hold a plurality of tools, the tool magazine having a rotary unit rotatable around a predetermined rotary axis and a measured portion provided in the rotary unit, a sensor disposed outside of the rotary unit in a radial direction that is perpendicular to the rotary axis, and configured to detect the measured portion, and a controller configured to detect a position of an origin point of the rotary unit based on a result of the detection by the sensor.

A machine tool includes a spindle configured to hold a tool, a tool magazine configured to hold a plurality of tools and to exchange the tools with the spindle, and a cleaning mechanism configured to remove adhering objects adhered to the tool magazine by spraying fluid to the tool magazine.