A control system for controlling a tool of a machine includes at least one controller and detecting means. The detecting means includes at least one range finder device for at least partly detecting and positioning an object with regards to the tool in 3D space. An operation mode of the at least one controller depends at least in part on the object. A machine and a method for controlling a tool of the machine are also disclosed.

A control device moves a cutting tool relative to a workpiece to bring the workpiece and the cutting tool into contact with each other, and acquires a coordinate value of a reference point when the workpiece and the cutting tool come into contact with each other. The control device derives an error between the coordinate value thus acquired and a design coordinate value of the reference point at a position where the workpiece and the cutting tool come into contact with each other, and outputs information on the error.

The present invention relates to a measuring steady rest which has a device for supporting central workpiece regions, in particular, bearing points on shaft parts, in particular crankshafts, and a measurement device integrated therein for directly adjusting the measurement of the workpiece regions before and/or during machining of the shaft parts. The measuring steady rest is preferably designed in the form of a prism, the measurement device being arranged on the bottom of the prism between the lateral flanks of the prism. The present invention further relates to a grinding machine comprising such a measuring steady rest, and to a method for supporting and measuring central workpiece regions on such a grinding machine comprising such a measuring steady rest.

A calibration method for machine tools comprises: providing a workpiece on a machine tool; rotating the workpiece around a first rotation axis parallel to a main shaft of the machine tool and processing the workpiece by a first machining mode; measuring a first dimensional error of a shape of the workpiece along directions of first and second linear axes perpendicular to the first rotation axis; calculating a positional error of the first rotation axis according to the first dimensional error; rotating the workpiece around a second rotation axis perpendicular to the main shaft and processing the workpiece by a different second machining mode; measuring a second dimensional error of the shape of the workpiece along a direction of a third linear axis perpendicular to the second rotation axis; calculating a positional error of the second rotation axis according to the second dimensional error.

A calibration method for machine tools comprises: providing a workpiece on a machine tool; rotating the workpiece around a first rotation axis parallel to a main shaft of the machine tool and processing the workpiece by a first machining mode; measuring a first dimensional error of a shape of the workpiece along directions of first and second linear axes perpendicular to the first rotation axis; calculating a positional error of the first rotation axis according to the first dimensional error; rotating the workpiece around a second rotation axis perpendicular to the main shaft and processing the workpiece by a different second machining mode; measuring a second dimensional error of the shape of the workpiece along a direction of a third linear axis perpendicular to the second rotation axis; calculating a positional error of the second rotation axis according to the second dimensional error.

The method can include: assembling the part to be machined to a pallet into an assembly; measuring a centering of the part relative to the pallet; adjusting the centering of the part relative to the pallet based on said measuring; repeating the steps of measuring and adjusting until determining that the part is centered based on said measuring; and mounting the centered assembly to an automatic machining device and machining the part of the centered assembly with the automatic machining device.

Provided is a three-dimensional measurement device applicable to a machining machine. A sensor head contains a body and a collet chuck. A light emitting window and a light receiving window are provided on the front end of the body. A non-contact sensor is incorporated in the body. Laser light emitted by the non-contact sensor is radiated onto a workpiece through the light emitting window. Laser light reflected from the surface of the workpiece is received by the light receiving window. A collet chuck is attached to the rear end of the body. The collet chuck has the same shape as a collet chuck provided by each tool housed in a tool magazine of a machining center.

Provided is a three-dimensional measurement device applicable to a machining machine. A sensor head contains a body and a collet chuck. A light emitting window and a light receiving window are provided on the front end of the body. A non-contact sensor is incorporated in the body. Laser light emitted by the non-contact sensor is radiated onto a workpiece through the light emitting window. Laser light reflected from the surface of the workpiece is received by the light receiving window. A collet chuck is attached to the rear end of the body. The collet chuck has the same shape as a collet chuck provided by each tool housed in a tool magazine of a machining center.

In a method for automated positioning of a blank in a processing machine provided with a housing and a spindle unit with an electric motor, a control unit for control and electrical supply of the processing machine, a computer producing processing programs for manufacturing workpieces, a workpiece holder, and an image recording unit that optically records image data of a blank received in the workpiece holder, a blank is fixed in the processing machine and the image recording unit produces an image of the blank. A division of the blank into an already processed region and into an unprocessed region based on the image data of the image is performed. A workpiece geometry to be produced is assigned to the unprocessed region of the blank, and a milling operation is performed on the unprocessed region. In a variant of the method, the image recording unit is separate from the processing unit.

A laser alignment system is affixed to a drilling machine M, the laser alignment system contains: a base, two first fixers, two lamp holders, two second fixers, two first resilient elements, two first adjustable screws, two second resilient elements, and two second adjustable screws. The base includes two symmetrical holding sections, two extensions, and two peripheral orifices. Each first fixer has a first arcuate portion, an accommodation hole, a first threaded hole, a limitation hole, a first protrusion and a second protrusion. Each lamp holder includes a peripheral knob, a first receiving orifice, a first rotation portion, a second rotation portion, and a swing portion. Each second fixer includes a second arcuate portion, a second receiving orifice, a first projection and a second projection.