A cutting machine includes a monitoring unit that monitors a cutting edge of a cutting blade. The monitoring unit includes an imaging unit that images the cutting edge of the cutting blade, a pulse light source that emits a pulse light to illuminate an imaging zone imaged by the imaging unit, and a camera that captures an image outputted from the imaging unit. The imaging unit includes a first imaging unit that images one side surface of the cutting edge of the cutting blade, a second imaging unit that images an opposite side surface of the cutting edge, and a third imaging unit that images an outer peripheral edge portion of the cutting edge.

A cutting machine includes a monitoring unit that monitors a cutting edge of a cutting blade. The monitoring unit includes an imaging unit that images the cutting edge of the cutting blade, a pulse light source that emits a pulse light to illuminate an imaging zone imaged by the imaging unit, and a camera that captures an image outputted from the imaging unit. The imaging unit includes a first imaging unit that images one side surface of the cutting edge of the cutting blade, a second imaging unit that images an opposite side surface of the cutting edge, and a third imaging unit that images an outer peripheral edge portion of the cutting edge.

A rotation mechanism rotates a spindle to which a cutting tool or a workpiece is attached. A rotation controller controls the rotation of the spindle by the rotation mechanism. A feed mechanism moves the cutting tool relative to the workpiece. The rotation controller alternately exercises acceleration control under which the rotation of the spindle is accelerated to make a speed fluctuation ratio between the current cutting speed and a cutting speed one rotation before at the same rotation position equal to or greater than the first value that is greater than 1 and deceleration control under which the rotation of the spindle is decelerated to make the speed fluctuation ratio equal to or less than the second value that is less than 1.

A universal rotating chuck system capable of accommodating multiple small-batch or one-off machining jobs, involving workpieces of different diameter and composition, comprises a rotating chuck having multiple jaws that may be adjusted positionally inward or outward towards the longitudinal centerline of the workpiece or removed entirely. The chuck is rotated by a dual-motor system driving an inner and outer shaft, where the inner shaft is selectively coupled to the outer shafts to rotate independently and adjust the jaws, or rotate alongside the outer shaft to rotate the chuck. In operation, the system is capable of conducting numerous machining operations independent of direct user intervention, including loading/unloading workpieces, loading/unloading tools, measuring tools and workpieces for quality control, and storage.

A universal rotating chuck system capable of accommodating multiple small-batch or one-off machining jobs, involving workpieces of different diameter and composition, comprises a rotating chuck having multiple jaws that may be adjusted positionally inward or outward towards the longitudinal centerline of the workpiece or removed entirely. The chuck is rotated by a dual-motor system driving an inner and outer shaft, where the inner shaft is selectively coupled to the outer shafts to rotate independently and adjust the jaws, or rotate alongside the outer shaft to rotate the chuck. In operation, the system is capable of conducting numerous machining operations independent of direct user intervention, including loading/unloading workpieces, loading/unloading tools, measuring tools and workpieces for quality control, and storage.

An estimating device estimating a rotary axis position of a workpiece includes first and second position acquisition units acquiring tool positions in first and second directions, a load acquisition unit acquiring first and second directional loads of the tool in the first and second directions, a determination unit determining whether or not the first and second directional loads each are a threshold or less, a turning control unit performing a lathe turning on the workpiece until the first directional load becomes the threshold or less and thereafter performing a lathe turning thereon until the second directional load becomes the threshold or less, and an estimating unit estimating the rotary axis position based on a first directional position of the tool when the first directional load has become the threshold or less, and a second directional position thereof when the second directional load has become the threshold or less.

A procedure for measuring a measured variable in a process step of a manufacturing process uses a measurement chain with an evaluation unit and a plurality of measurement units having a sensor, a converter unit and a secondary antenna. The evaluation unit has a primary antenna. A measurement unit is positioned for measuring the measured variable and automatically coupled to the evaluation unit by establishing a transmission connection between the secondary antenna and the primary antenna. The sensor automatically generates measurement signals indicative of the measured variable. The converter unit automatically converts the measurement signals into measurement data, which the secondary antenna automatically transmits to the primary antenna.

A procedure for measuring a measured variable in a process step of a manufacturing process uses a measurement chain with an evaluation unit and a plurality of measurement units having a sensor, a converter unit and a secondary antenna. The evaluation unit has a primary antenna. A measurement unit is positioned for measuring the measured variable and automatically coupled to the evaluation unit by establishing a transmission connection between the secondary antenna and the primary antenna. The sensor automatically generates measurement signals indicative of the measured variable. The converter unit automatically converts the measurement signals into measurement data, which the secondary antenna automatically transmits to the primary antenna.

An automatic lathe includes a positioning block that positions a rod material, the rod material projecting from a main spindle contacting the positioning block, and a sensor that moves in a direction intersecting with a shaft center C direction of the main spindle to detect a cut off condition of the rod material. The positioning block includes a groove that allows movement of the sensor, and moves in the same direction as a movement direction of the sensor between a position that contacts the rod material and a position that has no contact with the rod material. The sensor moves along the path in the position that has no contact with the rod material.

A turning tool includes a tool body extending along a tool axis and having a base on a tip of the tool body, a cutting insert detachably attached to the base, and a measurement device attached to the tool body. The measurement device has a first distance sensor which measures a distance to an object located radially outward of the tool axis.