A universal machining system capable of accommodating multiple small-batch or one-off machining jobs, involving workpieces of different diameter and composition, comprises a rotating chuck having multiple jaws that may be adjusted positionally inward or outward towards the longitudinal centerline of the workpiece or removed entirely, and a tool turret capable of holding a variety of socketed tools. System also comprises a measurement sensor, which may be separate or comprise one of the socketed tools. A control program collects machining instructions for a series of workpieces, and directs the chuck, the tool turret, the measurement sensor, and at least one robot to load/unload workpieces and tools from the chuck and turret, respectively, measure workpieces and tools for quality control, and track available storage, overriding or skipping individual machining instructions as dictated by safety parameters and the availability of raw materials and tools.

Systems and methods are provided for shape controlled gripping of a workpiece. A layer jamming structure includes a membrane defining an internal cavity containing a number of overlapping material layers. A pressure system includes a pump coupled with the internal cavity. A shape conforming tool includes at least one part configured to move to apply a force to the layer jamming structure. The shape conforming tool, by operation of the part, conforms the layer jamming structure to the workpiece. The pressure system, with operation of the pump, changes a pressure in the internal cavity to impart rigidity to the layer jamming structure.

A machining center equipped with a device for mounting on a clamp parts to be worked or which have been worked, such as profiles, which has a supporting frame for supporting a turntable with two or more stepped positions or placements or workstations, an loading basket and an unloading basket.

The machining center comprises a robot configured to remove or to associate, with each one of said two or more stepped positions or placements or workstations, the parts or the profiles to be worked and which have been worked at a plurality of fixed RPS or reference points and mobile mechanical components, according to a single positioning that is adapted to allow access by machining devices to any zone in the space of the profiles to be worked by modifying only the condition that the two or more stepped positions or placements or workstations are in.

The present invention relates to a central tool storage device WL with a tool storage S, containing a plurality of wheel magazines S3 positioned one behind the other, a movable manipulator S12 as well as a provisioning station S4 provided with a movable provisioning bar S4 and a mobile transport unit E, which, for providing tools W for a machine tool WM spaced apart, removes a tool W from the wheel magazines with the aid of the manipulator S12 and transfers it via the provisioning bar S4 to the provisioning station S2 of the mobile transport unit E to transport it to the respective machine tool WM without a guide or track, and which, for storing tools W received from at least one machine tool WM, transfers the tool W via the mobile transport unit E to the provisioning bar S4 of the provisioning station S2 and removes it from the provisioning bar S2 with the aid of the manipulator S12 and adds it to a wheel magazine S3 of the tool storage S.

A handling tool for reorienting a workpiece in an interior of a CNC machine has a gripper assembly connected to a turret in the interior of the CNC machine. The gripper assembly is movable between closed and open positions to grip and release the workpiece and is rotatable about a longitudinal axis to reorient the workpiece in the interior of the CNC machine.

A device for loading and unloading and for operating a machine vise (10) of a machine tool (02), the device having a positioning device (13) mounted so as to be displaceable along a longitudinal direction (L), a coupling unit (14) movable together with the positioning device (13) being disposed at one end of the positioning device (13) in the longitudinal direction (L) for the detachable mechanical coupling to a machine vise (10) of the machine tool (02) and for the operation, in particular opening and closing, of the machine vise (10) and a workpiece handling unit (15), in particular a multiaxial robot unit, being disposed on the positioning device (13) behind the coupling unit (14) in the longitudinal direction (L) so as to be movable together with the positioning device (13).

A conveyance apparatus includes two clamp mechanisms. Each of the clamp mechanisms is configured to freely change its state among a fully clamping state, a semi-clamping state, and a non-clamping state. When an object is delivered from a first clamp mechanism that is holding the object to a second clamp mechanism, the second clamp mechanism is brought into the semi-clamping state to temporarily hold the object. Then, the first clamp mechanism is brought into the non-clamping state and the second clamp mechanism is brought into the fully clamping state.

It is possible to improve workpiece machining efficiency by efficiently receiving and delivering a workpiece from/to each workpiece holder and shortening a time required for workpiece conveyance. A workpiece conveyance system is a workpiece conveyance system that receives and delivers workpieces W to be machined to n spindles (workpiece holders, where n is an integer satisfying n≥2) that hold and rotate the workpieces W, and includes a main loader including n+m main loader chucks (where m is an integer satisfying m≥1) that receive and deliver workpieces from/to the n spindles or n relay loaders disposed corresponding to the n respective spindles to receive and deliver the workpieces W from/to the main shafts.

The present invention relates to a machine tool for machining surfaces of in particular rotationally symmetrical workpieces (7), comprising at least one machining station (1, 2), at least one loading station (3) and/or unloading station (4) for the workpieces to be machined and/or the machined workpieces, a loading device (6) for transferring the workpieces (7) from one station (1, 2, 3, 4) to an adjacent station (1, 2, 3, 4),

characterized in that the loading device (6) comprises a rotatably driven sliding device (8), a drive (9) for the sliding device (8) and a rotatably mounted and braked guiding device (10),

wherein driving the sliding device (8) initially causes a workpiece (7) to be pressed by the sliding device (8) against the guiding device (10), after which the workpiece (7) abutting against the sliding device (8) and abutting against the braked guiding device (10) indirectly moved by the sliding device (8) is transferred onto a circular arc track from one station (1, 2, 3, 4) into an adjacent station (1, 2, 3, 4).

A load lifting device for lifting a load. The load lifting device includes a primary plate, a lifting attachment that receives a hook of an overhead suspender, and a clamping system that can clamp a load onto the lifting device between two jaws. The clamping system can have a coarse adjustment and a fine adjustment. The coarse adjustment selectively connects a jaw to the primary plate at a plurality of discrete connection points, and the fine adjustment mechanism selectively moves a contact point of the first jaw toward a first end portion of the load. A method for lifting a load includes positioning the load lifting device horizontally above a load, clamping the load with a clamping system, and imparting a vertical force on an end portion of the load lifting device to rotate it from horizontal to vertical.