A chip evacuator tool includes at least one hook member configured to grab and remove chips from a machined part. The chip evacuator tool is attached to and rotates with a spindle of a machine tool, which is controlled using a computer of a CNC machine. In operation the location of the chip evacuator tool remains stationary while both the chip evacuator tool and the machined part rotate in the same direction, resulting in efficient removal of chips from the machined part.

A machine tool includes: a turret configured to hold a tool through a clamp mechanism; a workpiece main spindle device configured to rotatably hold a workpiece; a switching unit configured to change a clamp state of the clamp mechanism by using rotation torque of the workpiece main spindle device; and an in-machine robot configured to move the switching unit. The clamp mechanism includes a torque input hole to which rotation torque is applied to change the clamp state. The switching unit includes an input shaft coupled with the workpiece main spindle device, an output shaft coupled with the torque input hole of the clamp mechanism and configured to output torque to the torque input hole, and a transmission mechanism configured to transfer, to the output shaft, the rotation torque of the workpiece main spindle device input through the input shaft.

A method of operating a part cleaning machine includes removably attaching a part to a part holder. A selected first one of a plurality of tools is transferred from a tool holder to a tool chuck to perform a desired cleaning operation. The selected first one of the tools is positioned in a pre-defined tool cleaning position by moving a chuck holder along an axis on a tool positioning plane. The part is positioned in a pre-defined part cleaning position by at least one of moving a cradle along an X axis, rotating the cradle about a first cradle axis, or rotating the part holder about a second cradle axis. The desired cleaning operation is performed on the part with the selected first one of the tools, with the part in the pre-defined part cleaning position and the selected first one of the tools in the pre-defined tool cleaning position.

A part cleaning machine includes a cradle moveable along an X axis, and rotatable about a first cradle axis. A part holder is attached to the cradle, and is rotatable about a second cradle axis. A chuck holder is moveable on a tool positioning plane that is perpendicular to the X axis. A tool chuck is attached to and moveable with the chuck holder. A tool holder is moveable relative to the chuck holder along the X axis. A plurality of tools are releasably attached to the tool holder for selective attachment to the tool chuck. A machine controller is operable to control movement of the chuck holder, the tool chuck, and the tool holder to transfer a selected one of the tools between the tool chuck and the tool holder, and position an appropriate tool and the part in different positions for several different cleaning operations.

A machine tool setup changing method includes mounting a master workpiece onto a tool spindle axis, deforming a gripping part by gripping, with the gripping part of a jig, a mock clamped portion of the master workpiece mounted on the tool spindle axis, and removing the master workpiece from the tool spindle axis and mounting a tool supported on a tool support device onto the tool spindle axis, wherein the workpiece gripped at the clamped portion by the gripping part, which was deformed in accordance with the mock clamped portion, can be machined with the tool.

A computer numerical control (CNC) machining center is provided. The CNC machining center includes a spindle that receives a cutting tool. A work surface is operably arranged adjacent the spindle. A non-contact three-dimensional (3D) measurement device is operably coupled to the tool mount, the 3D measurement device including a projector and at least one device camera, the at least one camera being arranged to receive light from the light source that is reflected off of a surface. A plurality of targets is provided with at least one of the targets coupled to the 3D measurement device. At least two photogrammetry cameras are provided having a orientation and a field of view to acquire images of the targets. A controller is coupled for communication to the 3D measurement device and the at least two cameras, the controller determining the position of the 3D measurement device within the machining center during operation.

A machine tool includes a workpiece holder, a tool holder holding working tools that includes a hob cutter used in a rough machining and a skiving cutter used in a finish machining, a tool magazine, a tool replacing device replacing one of the working tools mounted on the tool holder with the other of working tools housed in the tool magazine, a rough machining controlling section performing the rough machining on the workpiece, a tool measuring device measuring a position of a blade in a rotation direction of the skiving cutter, an angle correcting section correcting a rotation angle of the skiving cutter based on a result measured by the tool measuring device, and placing a tooth space formed in the workpiece and an edge tip of the blade in a position corresponding to each other, and a finish machining controlling section by which workpiece is finish machined.

A machine tool has a clamping device for clamping in workpieces to be machined, a work spindle which is movable relative to the clamping device, a tool magazine wherein tools for machining the workpieces are held available, the tools being selectively clamped into the work spindle, and a spindle gripper to be selectively clamped into the work spindle and being self-holding in its gripping position, said spindle gripper being held available in the tool magazine and being movable between a transfer position to the work spindle and an unloading station in which the spindle gripper releases a work piece remnant received from the clamping device.

It is an object of the invention to provide a new push bar type of index apparatus which can hold and machine the work exactly while the machining center machines the work having a predetermined length even if the work is long. An index apparatus comprises first and second index tables 4a and 4b configured to hold a work 1. The apparatus comprises a push bar transmission mechanism configured to rotate the first index table 4a in response to the movement of the push bar 7. The work 1 and the second index table 4b are rotated by the rotation of the first index table 4a integrally so as to index the work 1.

A machine for the working of sheet materials is described, which includes a support frame, a supporting head, a working means with rotary tools and a waterjet cutting tool. The machine is provided with fast-couplers that include first and second male fast-couplers respectively disposed on the working means with rotary tools and on the waterjet cutting tool, and first and second female fast-couplers disposed in the supporting head. The female fast-couplers are configured in such a way to permit the alternative coupling with the first male fast-coupler or with the second male fast-coupler.