A machine tool, in particular a multi-spindle and/or double-spindle milling machine, comprising a machine frame, a workpiece clamping device for clamping a workpiece, an axis slide assembly which is arranged on the machine frame and is configured to linearly move the workpiece clamped on the workpiece clamping device by way of two controllable linear axes in a Y-direction and a Z-direction, and a spindle carrier assembly, which is arranged on the machine frame and has at least two tool-carrying work spindles that can be moved independently of each other in an X-direction which is perpendicular to the Y-direction and Z-direction.

An automated station (1) for the finishing of brake pads (4) comprises at least one rotary finishing tool (2) for finishing a friction layer (22) of the brake pad (4), a workhead (3) to pick, retain and release the brake pad (4), a handling unit (6) to move the workhead (3) along a programmable path comprising a pass over the rotary finishing tool (2) and a guide (5) having a mouth (27) which is passed through by the workhead (3) in order to start the finishing pass along the length of the programmable route, the guide (5) contacting the workhead (3) to define, along at least one direction (A; C), the relative position between the workhead (3) and the brake pad (4) during the finishing carried out by the rotary finishing tool (2).

A system (40) is provided for processing a workpiece (44). The system (40) includes a support surface (48) for supporting the workpiece (44) and defining a processing path (P) along which the workpiece (44) may travel relative to the system (40). The system (40) includes at least one tool (64a, 64b, 64c) for performing a process on the workpiece (44) that is movable in a work zone (WZ) along a predetermined length (L) of the workpiece (44) in a direction along the processing path (P). The system (40) includes a movable clamp assembly (80) having opposing clamping pads (84, 88) movable into and out of the work zone (WZ) along the processing path (P) to clamp a portion of the workpiece (44) located in the work zone (WZ) prior to the at least one tool (64a, 64b, 64c) performing a process on the workpiece (44).

The present invention relates to embodiments of a machine tool, in particular a multi-spindle milling machine, comprise a machine frame, a workpiece clamping device for clamping a workpiece, an axis slide assembly arranged on the machine frame, and a spindle carrier assembly which is arranged on the machine frame and has at least two tool-carrying work spindles. The axis slide assembly is configured to linearly move the workpiece clamped at the workpiece clamping device by way of three controllable linear axes X, Y and Z. The work spindles are arranged at a turret which can be rotated or swiveled about a turret axis at respectively equal distance from the turret axis, and the spindle axes of the work spindles are aligned or can be aligned in parallel to one another and in parallel to the turret axis.

A combined transfer and storage device for machining comprises a storage level, a transfer device, at least one machining interface, and a feeding interface. The storage level comprises two or more storages that are spaced apart from one another in a longitudinal direction and having storage spaces for workpiece carriers, which are arranged one above the other for holding blanks or machined workpieces. The transfer device extends in the longitudinal direction. The machining interface is used for directly or mediately coupling with a machine tool. The feeding interface is accessible for a driverless transport vehicle. The transfer device accomplishes a workpiece transfer between the feeding interface, the storage level and the at least one machining interface. A manufacturing line is provided with a combined transfer and storage device and with at least one manufacturing system having at least one machine tool and a handling cell that is arranged between a machining interface of the combined transfer and storage device and the machine tool.

A machine tool for machining workpieces, wherein the machine tool has a first spindle assembly and at least one second spindle assembly each having at least two working spindles which are arranged in a common spindle housing and on which in each case a machining tool for workpiece machining is arrangeable, wherein the machine tool has a workpiece holding device for holding workpieces for the purpose of workpiece machining by way of the machining tools, wherein the machine tool has a guide arrangement for the relative positioning of the workpiece holding device holding the workpieces and the first and the at least one second spindle assembly for workpiece machining.

A machine including: a table having a surface adapted to have a workpiece lay and move thereon, and a vise for gripping the workpiece. The machine also includes a drive system for moving the vise and workpiece a distance along the table surface, and a sensor assembly connected to the vise for measuring an amount of slip distance occurring between the vise and the workpiece. The machine also includes a control unit connected to the sensor assembly and the drive system for storing the measured slip distance and for operating the drive system and for operating to do at least one of, when a predetermined amount of slip distance is detected: sounding an alarm and stopping further movement of the workpiece, and, when a slip distance is measured, for causing the drive system to move the vise and workpiece an added distance equal to the measured slip distance.

The present invention relates to a machine tool 100 for machining a workpiece 12 by means of a tool 22, which comprises a clamping means 11 for clamping the workpiece 12 and a support means 21 for receiving the tool 22, wherein the clamping means 11 is mounted on a spindle head of a clamping means-carrying work spindle 10 and the support means 21 is mounted on a spindle head of a support means-carrying work spindle 20, and the machine tool 100 is designed to position the two work spindles 10, 20 by means of numerically controllable axes in relation to one another in such a way that the workpiece 12, which is clamped in the clamping means 11, can be processed by the tool 22, which is received in the support means 21.

A machining system of the present invention includes a robot having a hand, a processing machine to rotate a machining tool, a control unit which controls the processing machine and the robot so as to rotate the machining tool and press a workpiece held by the hand against the machining tool to thereby machine the workpiece, and a force sensor which detects force acting between the workpiece and the machining tool when the workpiece is pressed against the machining tool by the robot and is machined by the machining tool. The control unit regulates the workpiece feed speed of the robot and the rotational speed of the machining tool so that the force value detected by the force sensor is between a predetermined upper threshold and a predetermined lower threshold.

A part-holding device includes a holding portion configured to hold an object to be held and a main body configured to detachably connected to the holding portion. The main body has a first surface, a second surface, and a third surface oriented in respective differing directions, and the holding portion has a first abutting surface, a second abutting surface and a third abutting surface capable of abutting against the first surface, the second surface, and the third surface, respectively. The part-holding device further includes pressing means configured to press the holding portion to cause the first abutting surface to abut against the first surface and to cause the second abutting surface to abut against the second surface, and fixing means configured to cause the third abutting surface to abut against the third surface and to fix the holding portion to the main body.