A machine tool for machine processing workpieces by using a tool having a pull stud at a proximal end portion thereof. The machine tool includes a tool magazine having a number of tool holders each of which is capable of attaching and detaching the tool, a spindle which holds the tool at the time of machine processing the workpieces, and a controller which determines whether or not the pull stud is appropriate on the basis of detected data of a visual sensor which is provided inside or outside the machine tool, and which captures images of the pull stud of a tool holder of the tool, or detected data of a sensor which is provided inside the tool magazine, and which measures length, electric resistance, or electric capacity of the pull stud.

An apparatus for active contact force control is disclosed. The apparatus can have upper flange on which to mount a production tool. The apparatus can be mounted, via a lower flange, on a multi-axis machine to obtain spatial motion together with the corresponding production tool. The apparatus can comprise a housing inside which can be a linear actuator connected to guides. Mechanical connection between a ball screw and the upper flange can contain a force sensor and at least one spherical joint. The connection between the spherical joint and the upper flange can be formed using a mechanical dissipative element made of elastic dissipative elements and a disc plate positioned between the elastic dissipative elements.

A process for operating a virtual sensor for determining the condition of a tool holder on a tool machine, such as a spindle, and the condition of a tool machine which has at least one tool holder and at least one tool, attached or attachable to the tool holder, which allows a workpiece to be processed by running a machine program, and which has at least one control unit comprising at least one sensor.

A process for operating a virtual sensor for determining the condition of a tool holder on a tool machine, such as a spindle, and the condition of a tool machine which has at least one tool holder and at least one tool, attached or attachable to the tool holder, which allows a workpiece to be processed by running a machine program, and which has at least one control unit comprising at least one sensor.

The invention relates to a processing centre (1) or cutting materials, consisting of a cutting machine (2a) and an adjusting device (5), wherein the adjusting device (5) has a positioning device (8), an illumination device (9, 9a) and an image sensor (11), wherein the positioning device (8) holds a tool unit (10) to be illuminated by the illumination device (9, 9a) in front of the image sensor (11) in such a way that the image sensor (11) is partially shaded by the tool unit (10), wherein the image sensor (11) has a greater maximum extension in at least one spatial coordinates direction than the tool unit (10) in the same spatial coordinates direction, and wherein the outline contour of the tool unit (10) is determined using the value for the extension of the shaded region.

A laser cutting device includes a control unit configured to control operations of a laser machining robot and a laser oscillator. Machining condition tables are stored in memory of the control unit. Each of the machining condition tables includes data of a laser power output and a duty, a usable range of a cutting speed of cutting a workpiece, the usable range being set based on a speed range in which a laser cutting robot can move with given tracking accuracy, and an effective range of the cutting speed and the laser power output that are set so that a cut surface of the workpiece meets given finishing conditions. The control unit is configured to select one of the machining condition tables so that the cutting speed and the laser power output meet given conditions, and control cutting of the workpiece based on the selected machining condition table.

A determining tool for use in determining the shape of the tip end of a machining tool that machines a workpiece held on a table while the machining tool moves relatively to the table includes a bottom surface adapted to be held on the table and a flat slanting surface inclined to the bottom surface and oriented across a direction in which the machining tool moves relatively to the table, the flat slanting surface being adapted to be cut through by the tip end of the machining tool.

A tool device (1) for machining a workpiece (4) by cutting, milling, drilling or grinding, comprising a sensor (20) for detecting a condition of the tool device (1) during machining, wherein the sensor (20) is connectable to a receiving unit (40), which transmits data to an analysis unit (50) for analyzing the received data. The sensor (20) is configured as a fiber optic sensor (20) comprising at least one optical fiber (26) providing an incident optical path (22) and a reflected optical path (24) for a light beam emitted by a connectable light source (30) and with a distal end thereof lying in a surface (14, 74) of the tool device (1) such that the optical path length can be measured.

A cutting machine configured for the chip-removing machining of a workpiece includes a plurality of required tools. Each tool can exert a tool force onto the workpiece. The cutting machine includes a tool holder for simultaneously holding all of the tools required for operating on the workpiece. A tool slide moves the tool holder to successively align one of the tools to operate on the workpiece, and the tool and the workpiece are movable for chip-removing machining in each manufacturing step. The tool holder includes at least two single-component force transducers. Each single-component force transducer measures a tool force exerted by one of the tools during the chip-removing machining of the workpiece in a force main connection.

A machining apparatus includes encoders that detect first rotational positions of motors that respectively drive an unwind shaft and a take-up shaft for conveying a material, an encoder that detects a second rotational position of a motor that drives a cutter edge for cutting the material, and a controller that controls the motor based on the first rotational position and controls the motor based on the second rotational position to coordinately control conveyance of the material and movement of the cutter edge. The controller calculates positional relationship information representing a positional relationship between the material and the cutter edge based on the second rotational position, determines whether the cutter edge is in contact with the material based on the positional relationship information, and estimates a life of the cutter edge based on a load on the motor when the tool is in a contact state.