A die is supported in a die holder such as a frame or an adapter supported in a frame such that it is operational use in a material deforming operation. One or both of the die and the die holder have at least one gas passage which is substantially closed by at least part of the die. Gas such as pressurised air is directed into an end of the gas passage opposite the die via a hose connected to a gas source. If the die is broken or loose leak paths are available for the escape of gas past the die to or from atmosphere. A pressure sensor connected to the hose detects the change in pressure of the gas and the magnitude of that pressure is used to determine the die condition. Alternatively a flow rate sensor is used to detect a change in the flow rate of the gas in order to determine the condition of the die.

A machine tool includes a spindle device; a shutter which is disposed between a tool magazine disposed over a machining chamber and the machining chamber, and is capable of opening and closing; a tool exchange device; and a tool breakage detecting device to detect whether a tool indexed to a tool detecting position of the tool magazine has breakage or not, and performs a return step of returning a first tool to the tool magazine with use of the tool exchange device; an attachment step of attaching a second tool to the spindle device; and a breakage detecting step of rotatively moving the first tool returned to the tool magazine to the tool detecting position and detecting breakage of the first tool with use of the tool breakage detecting device, after the shutter is closed. This constitution can prevent erroneous detection and improve the operational efficiency of the machine tool.

A die for deforming a workpiece material in a joining tool comprises a head with a top side partially defining a cavity in which the workpiece material is to be deformed, a bottom side opposite the top side, a lateral side arranged between the top side and the bottom side, and a stem which extends along a longitudinal axis from the bottom side of the head. The die further comprises an identification tag, preferably an RFID tag, having an antenna for receiving and/or transmitting a signal, and a storing element for storing information, and the antenna is wrapped circumferentially around the head, such that the antenna entirely surrounds the head. The head may also include a groove extending around the head on the lateral side with the antenna arranged in the groove. Additionally, the die may include a recess with the storing element located in the recess.

In order to be suitable for space-saving of a multi-functional processing machine in which a tool main spindle device is disposed at a center of an opposed biaxial lathe, there is provided an automatic tool exchanger provided in the multi-functional processing machine, the automatic tool exchanger including: a tool magazine that is disposed in a machine body front surface upper portion of the multi-functional processing machine and is configured to house multiple tools for exchange with respect to the tool main spindle device; a shift device configured to move the tool between the tool magazine and a tool exchanging position with respect to the tool main spindle device; and a tool changer configured to exchange the tool between the shift device and the tool main spindle device.

A cutting tool includes a shaft, and a sensor device disposed in such a manner as to surround a portion of the shaft. The sensor device includes a sensor module including first sensors, a substrate connected to the first sensors, and a wireless communication unit connected to the substrate and configured to transmit a signal including information detected by the first sensors to outside and a housing accommodating the sensor module. A region of the shaft surrounded by the sensor device includes a first region having a shape of a 4n-sided polygon when viewed from a direction in which the rotation axis extends. The plurality of first sensors are arranged on at least two of outer peripheral surfaces of the first region, perpendicular lines of the outer peripheral surfaces passing through the rotation axis and intersecting at 90 degrees.