There is provided a method of forming a ring gear, including providing a tube having an inner surface comprising gear teeth, the tube being a hollow tube formed by extrusion. The method also includes inserting a shaping tool into the tube, the shaping tool having tool teeth to mate with the gear teeth, and extended and retracted configurations. The shaping tool may be inserted into the tube in its retracted configuration. Moreover, the method includes extending the shaping tool into its extended configuration to cause the tool teeth to mate with the gear teeth and to exert a radially outward force on the tube. Furthermore, the method includes fixing a shape of an outer perimeter of the tube, retracting the shaping tool into its retracted configuration to reduce the radially outward force exerted by the shaping tool on the tube, and removing the shaping tool from the tube.

There is provided a method of forming a ring gear, including providing a tube having an inner surface comprising gear teeth, the tube being a hollow tube formed by extrusion. The method also includes inserting a shaping tool into the tube, the shaping tool having tool teeth to mate with the gear teeth, and extended and retracted configurations. The shaping tool may be inserted into the tube in its retracted configuration. Moreover, the method includes extending the shaping tool into its extended configuration to cause the tool teeth to mate with the gear teeth and to exert a radially outward force on the tube. Furthermore, the method includes fixing a shape of an outer perimeter of the tube, retracting the shaping tool into its retracted configuration to reduce the radially outward force exerted by the shaping tool on the tube, and removing the shaping tool from the tube.

A machine tool is provided which can execute various works while suppressing increase in cost or size. The machine tool includes a tool spindle device which is a movable member which can move with respect to a mounting surface of the machine tool, and one or more serial-manipulator-type robots attached on the tool spindle device, which can move with the tool spindle device, and which have two or more degrees of freedom, and the robot includes two or more end effectors provided at positions different from each other with one or more joints therebetween.

A manufacturing machine is capable of subtractive manufacturing and additive manufacturing for a workpiece. The manufacturing machine includes: a first headstock and a second headstock disposed in a machining area and configured to hold a workpiece; a tool spindle and a lower tool rest disposed in the machining area and configured to hold a tool to be used for subtractive manufacturing for the workpiece; an additive manufacturing head configured to discharge a material during additive manufacturing for the workpiece; a workpiece gripper configured to grip the workpiece during transportation of the workpiece into and out of the machining area; and a robot arm on which the additive manufacturing head and the workpiece gripper are mountable. Accordingly, the manufacturing machine improving the productivity in the simple and easy manner is provided.

A manufacturing machine is capable of subtractive manufacturing and additive manufacturing for a workpiece. The manufacturing machine includes: a first headstock and a second headstock disposed in a machining area and configured to hold a workpiece; a tool spindle and a lower tool rest disposed in the machining area and configured to hold a tool to be used for subtractive manufacturing for the workpiece; an additive manufacturing head configured to discharge a material during additive manufacturing for the workpiece; a workpiece gripper configured to grip the workpiece during transportation of the workpiece into and out of the machining area; and a robot arm on which the additive manufacturing head and the workpiece gripper are mountable. Accordingly, the manufacturing machine improving the productivity in the simple and easy manner is provided.

A system for inspecting a part while said part is produced by additive manufacturing, includes an additive manufacturing apparatus having a build tray, the apparatus being configured to fabricate the part layer-by-layer on the tray; an automated tool holder carrying a tool configured to deposit, add or weld layer-upon-layer of material; the tool holder and tray are configured to move relative to one another along a defined path; and an inspection device attached to the tool holder and configured to scan a layer of material in situ. The tool holder alternately arranges the tool and inspection device in a working position so that the tool holder fixes the tool in the working position for depositing, adding, or welding the layer of material and thereafter the tool holder switches said tool with the inspection device into the working position for scanning and detecting defects in the layer of material.

A hybrid computer numerical control (CNC) machining center and a machining method thereof are provided. The hybrid CNC machining center has at least a cutting tool head, a laser cladding tool head, a laser surface heat treatment tool head, and a computer numerical control unit. The cutting tool head, the laser cladding tool head, and the laser surface heat treatment tool head are alternately installed in a tool holder of the hybrid CNC machining center. Users can accomplish cutting, laser cladding, and laser surface heat treatment operations for a work-piece just in one single machine, so that the work-piece is unnecessary to be moved between different machines. Therefore, the steps and the process time of the machining operations are substantially simplified.

A method for the in-situ reconditioning of a heavy workpiece mounted on the floor. The method comprises assembling a jig mounted on the floor so as to be arranged around the workpiece to be reconditioned, that is also mounted on the floor, the jig supporting a gantry at the two ends of same, on which there is mounted a precision robotic arm carrying at least one machining apparatus. The method also comprises the alignment of the workpiece and the jig using a precision laser alignment tool in order to allow the jig, the gantry and the robotic arm to form a precision machining apparatus. The method also comprises the reconditioning of the workpiece using the precision machining apparatus.

A workpiece processing method is a method for successively processing a plurality of workpieces including a first workpiece and a second workpiece in a single machining area. The workpiece processing method includes: performing additive manufacturing on the second workpiece in the machining area; and performing subtractive manufacturing on the first workpiece in the machining area while keeping on standby the second workpiece on which additive manufacturing is performed. In this way, the workpiece processing method with improved productivity is provided.

A workpiece processing method is a method for successively processing a plurality of workpieces including a first workpiece and a second workpiece in a single machining area. The workpiece processing method includes: performing additive manufacturing on the second workpiece in the machining area; and performing subtractive manufacturing on the first workpiece in the machining area while keeping on standby the second workpiece on which additive manufacturing is performed. In this way, the workpiece processing method with improved productivity is provided.