A universal plate system for mounting tool heads and/or components on manufacturing machines includes a fixed plate assembly on the x-carriage of the manufacturing machine. A mobile plate assembly is configured to removably attach to the fixed plate assembly, to provide mechanical support and electrical connectivity to a tool head assembly mounted to the mobile plate assembly. The mobile plate assembly can be easily detached from the fixed plate assembly and replaced with a different mobile plate assembly having a different tool head assembly mounted thereon. Mating of the mobile plate assembly to the fixed plate assembly provides the mechanical and electrical connection between the manufacturing machine and the newly mounted tool head assembly, thus permitting quick changes of the tool head assembly to be made.

Disclosed is a universal fixture based machine tool used in the machining industry. The tool includes a numerically controlled machine tool body, a multifunctional machine tool countertop, a first fixture pallet, a second fixture pallet, a fixture integration platform, a split bench vise, and a flexible fixture element. The multifunctional machine tool countertop, the first fixture pallet and the second fixture pallet are all made of perforated foundation plates. The numerically controlled machine tool body can achieve a three-axis linkage machining function of X-, Y-, and Z-coordinate moving axes. The fixture integration platform can achieve a rotary machining function of three rotation axes A, B, and C of the universal fixture based machine tool. The flexible fixture element can have various combinations and changes, so that the universal fixture based machine tool has a machining function of three increment axes U, V, and W.

Disclosed is a universal fixture based machine tool used in the machining industry. The tool includes a numerically controlled machine tool body, a multifunctional machine tool countertop, a first fixture pallet, a second fixture pallet, a fixture integration platform, a split bench vise, and a flexible fixture element. The multifunctional machine tool countertop, the first fixture pallet and the second fixture pallet are all made of perforated foundation plates. The numerically controlled machine tool body can achieve a three-axis linkage machining function of X-, Y-, and Z-coordinate moving axes. The fixture integration platform can achieve a rotary machining function of three rotation axes A, B, and C of the universal fixture based machine tool. The flexible fixture element can have various combinations and changes, so that the universal fixture based machine tool has a machining function of three increment axes U, V, and W.

A frame assembly module for a CNC machine support structure, the module comprising a frame assembly module support structure, and a traversing element, coupled to the frame assembly module support structure, for traversing the frame assembly module support structure, the traversing element comprising a frame assembly fastening feature for attachment of a second frame assembly module to the traversing element, and a spindle fastening feature of attachment of a spindle to the traversing element, the frame assembly module support structure comprising a traversing element fastening feature for attachment of the frame assembly module support structure to a different traversing block. The module may comprise steel tubing.

A mobile manufacturing module comprising a platform configured to receive and support one or more interchangeable manufacturing elements and engageable with a removable positioning device that when engaged is configured to enable movement of the platform relative to a work piece, and one or more supports connected to the platform that are configured to contact a floor in order to support the platform when the removable positioning device is disengaged.

A mobile manufacturing module comprising a platform configured to receive and support one or more interchangeable manufacturing elements and engageable with a removable positioning device that when engaged is configured to enable movement of the platform relative to a work piece, and one or more supports connected to the platform that are configured to contact a floor in order to support the platform when the removable positioning device is disengaged.

A modular frame structure for a machining center which includes at least one modular unit having a first and a second individual module. Each individual module includes two mutually parallel vertical columns, each one extending parallel to a vertical direction; a pair of first horizontal cross-members, each one extending parallel to a first horizontal direction, each horizontal cross-member of the pair of first cross-members being joined to both columns.

The modular unit further includes two pairs of second horizontal cross-members, each horizontal cross-member parallel to a second horizontal direction that is perpendicular to the first horizontal direction.

A method and apparatus are disclosed for assembling an end effector for an automated modular tool. A processor is programmed with data corresponding to a portion of a part surface at a designated location. A setting fixture is driven with a plurality of linear motion actuators to a selected three-dimensional location relative to an adaptor bar of the modular tool that is attached to a frame. A tool setting head is rotated with a rotary drive. A platen is tilted with at least one platen tilting motor and gear set to angularly orient the platen to correspond to an angular orientation of the portion of the part surface at the designated location. An end effector is then placed on the platen and secured with a tooling arm to the adaptor bar.

A manufacturing system includes a base and multiple work machine modules that are attachable and detachable to and from the base arranged in the arrangement direction on the base or on the side of the base, in which the plurality of work machine modules include one or more processing work modules that perform machine processing work on a workpiece using a tool, and one or more supplementary work modules that perform supplementary work that is work supplementarily performed to the machine processing work. Since it is possible to easily increase and decrease the number of processing work modules and supplementary work modules or sort the modules, it is possible to easily recombine the modules with respect to modification of the manufacturing process.

A base configuration of a processing machine line including a machine tool loaded on a base provided with a processing module that performs specified processing on a work, and an auto loader that transfers the work between processing modules, the base being configured such that a rail member of the auto loader that has a length to match the width of the base is assembled on a front section of the base, and, when multiple bases are arranged next to each other in an adjacent position at which rail members can be connected, an additional rail member is able to be attached to and removed from an additional base.