A drive system for driving a chuck device includes a controller and a switching valve, which is a 5-port servo valve, switching the state of supply of compressed air to the chuck device based on a valve command signal from the controller. During switching of first and second fingers from a closed position to an open position, when the axial position of a piston reaches a switch point, which is a predetermined distance short of a target position corresponding to a freely selected intermediate position of the first and second fingers, the switching valve is opened at a third opening for a predetermined period and then switched to be opened at a fourth opening so that supply and discharge of compressed air are stopped. As a result, the first and second fingers stop in the intermediate position.

A method of determining pull-out of a cutting tool mounted in a rotatable tool holder includes the steps of rotating the tool holder and thus the cutting tool, machining a work piece with the rotating cutting tool, measuring an axial position of the cutting tool in the tool holder during machining by a position sensor in the tool holder, calculating an axial displacement from an initial position of the cutting tool by the measured axial position, and determining pull-out of the cutting tool when the axial displacement exceeds a threshold value. A rotatable tool holder for a cutting tool, a machine tool system including a rotatable tool holder and use of the tool holder and machine tool system is also provided.

A counter bearing for machining spindles of machine tools has at least one expansion bushing with an elastically deformable wall that delimits at least one pressure chamber. The pressure chamber accommodates a pressure medium. A supply line for the pressure medium opens into the pressure chamber. A pressure conduit opens into the pressure chamber. A mechanically actuatable pressure element is disposed in the pressure conduit and actuated by an actuating tool. A piston is slidably arranged in the pressure conduit and actuated by the pressure element, wherein the piston loads the pressure medium.

A work support and method of clamping a translatable component of a hydraulic work support system. The work support may include a rigid, hollow slotted collet, a sleeve, and the translatable component, such as a plunger or rod. Hydraulic fluid may be pumped into an inlet of the hydraulic work support system to hydraulically actuate the translatable component outward from a first retracted position to a second extended position. The hydraulic fluid may further be pumped to the sleeve at a sufficient pressure that the sleeve presses against the collet. The collet responds thereto by flexing into contact with the translatable component, thus holding the translatable component in the second extended position. The slots in the collet allow for flexure even when using a thicker material with stronger column strength.

A specialized vacuum chuck system of the present invention is capable of securing an object to a specialized welding tool in order to ensure that the object remains in a proper positional relationship with the welding tool. The system may also use springs and load stops to ensure that a proper load in maintained so the chuck base is not pulled off the object.

A wafer carrier comprises a first foil, a second foil, and a chamber between the first and the second foil. The first foil has a perforation and is used for carrying the wafer. The first and the second foil are connected to each other so as to form the chamber. The chamber is configured to be evacuated to form a vacuum in the chamber, the vacuum causes an underpressure at the perforation, the underpressure forms a carrying force to the wafer to be carried.

A tool holder used in a machine having a spindle is provided with a connector including a truncated conic part received in the spindle, and a projection extending out of the truncated conic part; a tool mounting member including an axial hole for fastening a tool and a portion of a chuck, and a receptacle for complimentarily receiving the projection; and at least one sleeve formed of a material having a high rigidity, each sleeve including a cavity at one end, the cavity being configured to complimentarily receive the projection, and a protrusion at the other end, the protrusion being configured to complimentarily attach to the receptacle. The connector, the at least one sleeve, and the tool mounting member are secured together.

In an inherently safe robotic tool changer, a master unit couples to a tool unit via a first power source, and decouples from the tool unit using a separate, second power source. The second power source is only available when an attached tool is safely disposed in a tool stand. In embodiments where the first power source is not selectively applied, such as the constant bias provided by a spring, a detent mechanism maintains the master unit in a decoupled state when the master unit is removed from the tool unit. The detent mechanism allows the master unit to couple to a different tool unit upon physically abutting the new tool unit.

In an inherently safe robotic tool changer, a master unit couples to a tool unit via a first power source, and decouples from the tool unit using a separate, second power source. The second power source is only available when an attached tool is safely disposed in a tool stand. In embodiments where the first power source is not selectively applied, such as the constant bias provided by a spring, a detent mechanism maintains the master unit in a decoupled state when the master unit is removed from the tool unit. The detent mechanism allows the master unit to couple to a different tool unit upon physically abutting the new tool unit.

[Object] To provide a main-shaft and holder combination, a holder, and a machine tool which prevent a hydraulic fluid from leaking when the holder is detached from the main shaft, in a configuration for feeding the hydraulic fluid from the main shaft to the holder.

[Solution Means] A main shaft fluid passage A30 is provided at a center of a spindle 25 and a main shaft check valve A11 is attached, and a holder fluid passage A32 is provided at a center of a holder 22 and a holder check valve A17 is attached. At a main shaft cylinder 23 position away from the spindle 25, a main shaft fluid passage B11 and a holder fluid passage B48 are provided, and a main shaft check valve B39 and a holder check valve B40 are attached. When the holder 25 is attached to the spindle 25, the main shaft check valve A11 (B39) and the holder check valve A17 (B40) are connected.