A machine tool that attaches and detaches workpieces to and from a spindle in a shorter time includes: a machining mechanism part including a spindle, a tool rest, a first-axis feed mechanism moving the spindle in a a first axis extending along a center axis of the spindle, and a second-axis feed mechanism relatively moving the spindle and the tool rest in a second axis orthogonal to the first axis; a loading mechanism part including holding parts for holding a workpiece, and a third-axis feed mechanism moving the holding parts in a third axis orthogonal to the first axis to position them at the transfer position; and a numerical controller. The numerical controller operates to move the spindle toward the transfer position and to position the holding parts at the transfer position such that the operations at least partially overlap.

A system and method for automated part inspection are provided. The method comprises receiving a corrective machine tool program comprising instructions for causing a Numerical Control machine tool to machine at least one finished surface of a part, the corrective machine tool program differing from a nominal machine tool program; determining from the machine tool program a desired position and a desired orientation of an inspection tool relative to the at least one finished surface; and generating an inspection tool path program defining a movement of the inspection tool relative to the part, the inspection tool path program comprising instructions for placing the inspection probe at the desired position and the desired orientation and acquiring at least one measurement of the at least one new finished surface.

A numerical controller stores tool data (including information on an inclination and length of a linear blade of a tool), reads an instruction block from a program, analyzes the instruction block, and generates instruction data indicating a movement amount of the tool on each axis instructed by the instruction block. Further, when performing taper machining, the numerical controller calculates a compensating amount for compensating an instructed path, based on the stored tool data, such that an actually-machined taper angle matches a taper angle instructed by the instruction block, compensates the generated instruction data based on the calculated compensating amount, and outputs the compensated instruction data.

A relative displacement-specifying unit specifies relative displacement between a jig and tool based on measurement values of displacements of the tool and jig. A position determination unit determines whether the jig and the tool are positioned at jig and tool calibration points based on the measurement values. A displacement correction unit corrects the measurement values based on captured images of the jig and tool calibration points when it is determined that the jig and the tool are positioned at the calibration points. A contact determination unit determines whether the tool contacts the workpiece based on a measurement value related to main shaft flexure. A tool data correction unit corrects tool data based on the relative displacement when it is determined that the tool contacts the workpiece. A control unit generates a control command to control the jig or the tool based on the relative displacement, workpiece shape, and tool data.

A machine tool includes one tip arranged on the spindle at a position that faces the table, a cutting edge position storing unit that stores therein multiple measured values that are obtained by performing measurement of the position of the tip at least two times in a state where the spindle is set at at least one phase and the tip is positioned at an identical point, a spindle tilt angle calculating unit that calculates a tilt angle of the spindle with respect to an XY-plane, based on the multiple measured values, and a coordinate system rotation unit that rotates the XY-plane about at least one of X-axis and Y-axis, based on the tilt angle of the spindle calculated by the spindle tilt angle calculating unit.

A method for identifying geometric errors in a machine tool includes the steps of: positioning a reference sphere so as to align its center with a centerline of a tool spindle; attaching a position measuring device having a gauge head to a rotation unit so as to direct the gauge head toward a rotation centerline of the rotation unit; acquiring displacement data relative to the center of the reference sphere by measuring positions of the reference sphere with the gauge head while rotating a rotation target (the swivel unit or the rotation unit) with the gauge head directed toward the center of the reference sphere, the displacement data being dependent on rotation angles of the rotation target; and identifying the geometric errors by least squares method using a mathematical expression having terms containing the geometric errors and representing displacement dependent on the rotation angles, and the displacement data.