A workpiece processing machine includes a separation device for dividing an operating space into a processing region and at least one additional operating region, a laser processing head configured to process the workpiece, and a rotary workpiece changer having a rotatable workpiece support for transporting the workpiece between the processing region and the at least one additional operating region by an opening. The rotatable workpiece support has a protection wall configured to shield the at least one additional operating region with respect to the processing region. The separation device has a protection element movable between a processing position and a transport position and configured to be in abutment with the protection wall in the processing position to close the opening and spaced apart from the protection wall in the transport position. A spacing between the processing position and the transport position is adjustable based on a dimension of the workpiece.

The machine tool includes a tool post linearly movable along a direction parallel to an X axis and a direction parallel to a Z axis, a workpiece spindle which retains a workpiece in a condition rotatable about an axis parallel to the Z axis, and an in-machine robot which is installed in a machining chamber and has joints. The joints of the in-machine robot include a base joint rotatable about an axis parallel to the Z axis, and three parallel joints rotatable about an axis orthogonal to the axis of rotation of the base joint, the parallel joints being located on a distal end side of the base joint and successively arranged from the base joint. The axis of rotation of the base joint is displaced from that of the workpiece spindle.

A machine tool has a cover that prevents chips generated by machining and cutting fluid from scattering around and a plurality of movable nozzles with liquid discharge directions thereof being movable so as to wash out chips that have adhered to or accumulated on an inner surface of the cover. The machine tool is capable of changing a discharge direction of each of the movable nozzles individually. The machine tool compares the state of the inside of the cover before start of machining with the state of the inside of the cover after chips are generated to determine an adhesion or accumulation state of chips. The machine tool thus calculates the liquid discharge direction to wash out chips from the movable nozzles based on a result of the determination.

Disclosed is a method for machining a component including: a first processing step of machining a workpiece material into a workpiece in which a needed portion is connected to an unneeded portion via a connecting portion by action of a tool supported by a tool supporting portion on the workpiece material supported by a workpiece material supporting portion in a processing space covered with a cover member; and a second processing step of cutting the connecting portion to separate the needed portion from the unneeded portion by using the tool supported by the tool supporting portion in a state in which a door that divides the processing space is opened for a workpiece material transport mechanism to move into the processing space and at least the needed portion of the workpiece obtained through machining in the first processing step is supported by the workpiece material transport mechanism.

An electric apparatus comprises a foreign matter detection panel arranged inside a casing and configured to detect contact of foreign matter. The electric apparatus comprises a detection controller which receives a signal outputted from the foreign matter detection panel and judges whether or not foreign matter is in contact with a surface of the foreign matter detection panel. The foreign matter detection panel includes a substrate, a transmitter which generates a surface acoustic wave on the substrate. The foreign matter detection panel includes a reflection array which reflects the surface acoustic wave in a predetermined direction and a receiver which receives the surface acoustic wave which has propagated along the substrate.

An automatic milling machine mills a gasket. The automatic milling machine controls the position of a cutter head relative a table. The automatic milling machine rotates the gasket with a motor. Parameters of the motor are monitored to determine the amount of rotation of the gasket.

The present disclosure shows a workpiece lock for an apparatus for handling and/or machining workpieces, which includes a robot for handling and/or machining the workpieces and a safety fence, wherein the work-piece lock has at least one closed position in which the workpiece lock closes an opening in the safety fence, wherein on moving a workpiece from the area within the safety fence to the area outside the safety fence and/or vice versa the workpiece lock has at least one open position in which it at least partly clears the opening in the safety fence. The present disclosure includes a safety function that prevents a movement of the robot into a safety area extending around the workpiece lock within the safety fence, when the lock is in the at least one open position.

A sheet material bending system includes a tool changing apparatus that changes tools between a press brake and a tool stocker. The tool stocker is arranged behind the press brake. To change tools from the front and rear of the tool stocker, the front and rear of the tool stocker are opened. The tool changing apparatus has a pivot that is movable in front-rear, left-right, and up-down directions and is rotatable around an axis extending in the up-down direction. A front end of the pivot is provided with tool holding units to hold tools.

A workpiece replacing apparatus delivers a pre-machined workpiece into an intra-machine space inside a machine tool from an extra-machine space outside the machine tool, and delivers a workpiece machined by the machine tool to the extra-machine space from the intra-machine space. The workpiece replacing apparatus includes a secured cover, an arm device, and a movable cover. The secured cover is secured to a securing member of the machine tool. The secured cover defines a partition between the intra-machine space and the extra-machine space. The secured cover is provided with an opening. The arm device delivers the workpieces between the intra-machine space and the extra-machine space through the opening. The movable cover is integral with the arm device or in engagement with the arm device such that the movable cover is operable in conjunction with operation of the arm device. The movable cover closes the opening, with the arm device located in the extra-machine space.

A machining system capable of preventing mist from leaking out from an enclosure to the outside. The machining system includes a first enclosure including an opening and configured to define a first space in which a workpiece is processed, a second enclosure arranged adjacent to the first enclosure and configured to define a second space communicating with the first space through the opening, wherein a robot which can advance to and retreat from the first space through the opening is installed in the second space, and a pressure adjustment device configured to increase a pressure in the second space higher than a pressure in the first space.