The present disclosure relates to an automatic tool changer for a machine tool and a method of controlling the same, in which a tool change may be automatically performed without being stopped when one of tool pots moves even though a gear motor is used by changing the number of rotations of a dog part in multiple stages in accordance with the number of counted rotations of the dog part and the sequential number of change target tool pots in case that a tool change command is created.

An information processing system includes a request accepting unit for accepting a request for a selected pot to store a selected tool in a pot of a machine tool magazine; a storing unit for storing a setting value in each of a first cell and a second cell of the selected pot; a selecting unit for selecting the first cell or the second cell for the selected pot; a determining unit for determining a condition to store the selected tool in the selected pot on the basis of a size of each tool, a selected cell, and a storage condition of each of the pots; and an informing unit for informing when the condition of storage is not met.

In order to configure a multi-spindle machine tool comprising a machine frame, a spindle drum arranged on the machine frame to be rotatable about a spindle drum axis and having a plurality of workpiece spindles, each of which is provided with a workpiece receptacle for a workpiece that is to be machined in a working area, a plurality of tool carriers arranged in the working area, in particular associated with individual spindle stations, and each having a tool holder receptacle into which a tool holder is insertable, as well as a machine control system for controlling the machine tool to be more efficient, it is proposed that a handling apparatus is arranged on the machine frame, that with the handling device, also controlled by the machine control system, at least one tool holder is insertable into at least one of the tool holder receptacles and/or removable therefrom.

An apparatus and method for automatically handling hollow cylindrical tools, including tools without a reduction in a wall thickness on an inner edge of slitting lines, where the apparatus includes a gripping head that has at least two radially extendible gripping fingers that each form an angle of greater than 90 degrees therebetween and are designed to be movable radially between a rest position and a gripping position in order to engage into the tools in the rest position and to clamp them in a splaying manner in the gripping position, where the gripping fingers each have a device for generating a directed repulsive force in the end region. In a particular embodiment the gripping head includes three gripping fingers. The gripping head may additionally include a vibration device operable to vibrate the fingers for separating an adhered adjacent hollow cylindrical tool.