In a machine tool, under user set conditions, a cutting tool is fed in a feeding direction while the cutting tool is moved repetitively to cut a workpiece smoothly while separating chips easily. In the machine tool and a control apparatus thereof, control means is configured to set the number of rotations of relative rotation for executing machining of a workpiece, and the number of repetitions of repetitive movement during one rotation of the relative rotation in accordance with a repetitive movement frequency attributable to a cycle during which an operation instruction can be issued.

The invention provides a control apparatus for a machine tool, which can perform reciprocating vibration in consideration of a vibration frequency, increase flexibility in machining a workpiece, and perform vibration cutting by means of an external spindle or the like without rotating a spindle. The control apparatus and the machine tool include control means. The control means includes an imaginary spindle regarded as a spindle for rotating a workpiece W or a cutting tool. The control means sets the number of rotations of the imaginary spindle and the number of reciprocating vibrations in accordance with a vibration frequency attributable to a cycle during which an operation instruction can be issued.

A swarf handling apparatus installed in a machining tool that performs machining operation accompanied with production of stringy swarf includes a swarf catching device. The swarf catching device includes a holder unit that holds the stringy swarf when the stringy swarf makes contact with the holder unit. The swarf catching device causes the holder unit to be floated in a region around a machining point in such a manner that the position of the holder unit is varied relative to the machining point, for catching the stringy swarf in the holder unit.

A swarf handling apparatus installed in a machining tool that performs machining operation accompanied with production of stringy swarf includes a swarf catching device. The swarf catching device includes a holder unit that holds the stringy swarf when the stringy swarf makes contact with the holder unit. The swarf catching device causes the holder unit to be floated in a region around a machining point in such a manner that the position of the holder unit is varied relative to the machining point, for catching the stringy swarf in the holder unit.

A numerical control apparatus includes: a drive unit controlling a main shaft rotating a workpiece, a first drive shaft feeding a cutting tool relatively to the workpiece along a perpendicular direction to a lead direction of a thread, and a second drive shaft feeding the cutting tool relatively to the workpiece along the lead direction; and a vibration unit superimposing, on movement of the first drive shaft, vibration having a period having a predetermined ratio with a rotation period of the main shaft, and forms a thread on the workpiece by moving the cutting tool and the workpiece relative to each other and performing cut processes on the workpiece. The numerical control apparatus includes a thread-cutting vibration adjustment unit controlling the drive unit to shift phase of the vibration with respect to phase of the main shaft by a predetermined vibration phase shift amount every time in the cut processes.

A numerical control apparatus includes: a drive unit controlling a main shaft rotating a workpiece, a first drive shaft feeding a cutting tool relatively to the workpiece along a perpendicular direction to a lead direction of a thread, and a second drive shaft feeding the cutting tool relatively to the workpiece along the lead direction; and a vibration unit superimposing, on movement of the first drive shaft, vibration having a period having a predetermined ratio with a rotation period of the main shaft, and forms a thread on the workpiece by moving the cutting tool and the workpiece relative to each other and performing cut processes on the workpiece. The numerical control apparatus includes a thread-cutting vibration adjustment unit controlling the drive unit to shift phase of the vibration with respect to phase of the main shaft by a predetermined vibration phase shift amount every time in the cut processes.

A control apparatus for machine tool, in accordance with user set conditions, feeds a cutting tool in a feeding direction while reciprocatively vibrating the cutting tool, smoothly cuts a workpiece, and achieves a machined surface having an improved appearance. In a machine tool and a control apparatus thereof, a control means is configured to set the number of rotations of relative rotation and the number of vibrations of reciprocating vibration during one rotation of the relative rotation in accordance with a vibration frequency attributable to a cycle during which an operation instruction can be issued, and the control means includes adjusting means configured to adjust the number of rotations or the number of vibrations set by the control means.

A control device for a machine tool and a machine tool, for which settings of the number of vibrations per rotation become easy, is provided. The control device of the machine tool controls a relative rotation between a workpiece and a cutting tool and a relative reciprocal movement between the workpiece and the cutting tool in a feed direction to perform vibration cutting to the workpiece. The control device includes a control section for controlling a spindle headstock, a first tool post, and a second tool post, the workpiece W being installed on the spindle headstock, the first tool post being provided to be reciprocally movable along the feed direction with respect to the spindle headstock and installed with a first cutting tool for cutting the workpiece, and the second tool post being provided to be reciprocally movable along the feed direction with respect to the spindle headstock independently of the first tool post and installed with a second cutting tool for cutting the workpiece.

A machine forms threads on a workpiece by relatively feeding the workpiece and a cutting tool in a feeding direction while relatively rotating the workpiece and the cutting tool, and by performing a helical cutting work multiple times while carrying out relative reciprocal vibration of the workpiece and the cutting tool in a radial direction of the workpiece. The machine tool or a control device of the machine tool includes a vibration setting unit to set a pattern of vibration during each cutting work accompanied by the reciprocal vibration so that a cut portion of one cutting work partially includes a portion that has been cut in another cutting work. The machine tool and the control device prevent a long, continuous chip from becoming entangled with a workpiece or a cutting tool in the process of forming threads on the workpiece.

A machine forms threads on a workpiece by relatively feeding the workpiece and a cutting tool in a feeding direction while relatively rotating the workpiece and the cutting tool, and by performing a helical cutting work multiple times while carrying out relative reciprocal vibration of the workpiece and the cutting tool in a radial direction of the workpiece. The machine tool or a control device of the machine tool includes a vibration setting unit to set a pattern of vibration during each cutting work accompanied by the reciprocal vibration so that a cut portion of one cutting work partially includes a portion that has been cut in another cutting work. The machine tool and the control device prevent a long, continuous chip from becoming entangled with a workpiece or a cutting tool in the process of forming threads on the workpiece.