A method measures an edge of a workpiece by scanning. The scanning is performed by a scanning tool mounted on a moving head of an edge-facing machine while that moving head is moved along the edge to be measured before, during or after an edge facing tool of the edge-facing machine that faces the edge. The method can be performed by an edge-facing machine that includes at least one edge facing tool and that further includes a scanning tool mounted on a movable head of the machine, which head is movable along an edge of a workpiece.

A machine tool includes with a tool head frame, a tool head, and an axis unit fixed to the tool head frame which fixes the tool head in a predefinable position. A movement device for moving the tool head frame includes a machine frame and a multipod drive which has at least three drive elements. The movement device is arranged in the flux of force between the machine frame and the machine tool frame, and has at least two supporting elements which can be brought into a locked state. The multipod drive is mechanically overdetermined by the supporting elements and the drive elements.

In one aspect, a swiss-type machine tool is provided that includes a workpiece holding shaft, a workpiece supporting shaft, and a tool holder associated with the workpiece supporting shaft for holding at least one tool. The machine tool includes a drive operable to rotate the workpiece holding shaft and the workpiece supporting shaft around an axis. The workpiece holding shaft has a work holder configured to secure a workpiece to the workpiece holding shaft. The workpiece holding shaft is axially shiftable relative to the workpiece supporting shaft to adjust a position of the workpiece relative to the workpiece supporting shaft. The machine tool further includes a removable workpiece support, such as a guide bushing, configured to be releasably connected to the workpiece supporting shaft and rotate therewith. The workpiece support slidably contacts the workpiece and permits axial movement of the workpiece relative to the workpiece support.

The invention discloses an automatic tool aligning system based on a spectral confocal displacement sensor. The system comprises three-dimensional mobile platform, tool aligning component based on the spectral confocal displacement sensor, clamping device, machine tool and the control module. The three-dimensional mobile platform is fixed on the outer side of the machine tool, the tool aligning component is connected with the three-dimensional mobile platform, the clamping device used to clamp the workpiece is fixed on the center of the machine tool through mechanical connection, and the spectral confocal displacement sensor is connected with the control module. After judging the collected working condition data, the control module outputs a control instruction to the three-dimensional mobile platform.

A workpiece machining system including a setting-up module and a machining module for producing workpieces. The setting-up module includes at least one first tool-holder attachment device for removably attaching at least one tool-holder and at least one first workpiece-carrier attachment device for removably attaching a workpiece-carrier. The machining module includes at least one second tool-holder attachment device for removably attaching at least one tool-holder and at least one second workpiece-carrier attachment devicefor removably attaching a workpiece-carrier, such that the tool-holder and the workpiece-carriercan both be transferred after setting up from the setting-up module to the machining module.

A workpiece machining system including a setting-up module and a machining module for producing workpieces. The setting-up module includes at least one first tool-holder attachment device for removably attaching at least one tool-holder and at least one first workpiece-carrier attachment device for removably attaching a workpiece-carrier. The machining module includes at least one second tool-holder attachment device for removably attaching at least one tool-holder and at least one second workpiece-carrier attachment device-for removably attaching a workpiece-carrier, such that the tool-holder and the workpiece-carrier-can both be transferred after setting up from the setting-up module to the machining module.

An automated mechanical machining system for machining a metal panel having a first face and a second face. The automated mechanical machining system further including at least one machining tool, at least one holding tool, a control module configured to control the at least one machining tool and the holding tool in a coordinated manner, a matching module configured to determine simple actual machining paths TRAJr1 from, on the one hand, predetermined simple theoretical machining paths TRAJt1 and, on the other hand, measurement of the actual surface SURFr of the second face and a slope management module configured to determine sloping actual machining paths TRAJr2 from sloping theoretical machining paths TRAJt2, the simple theoretical machining paths TRAJt1 and the simple actual machining paths TRAJr1.

An apparatus for active contact force control can have an upper flange on which to mount a production tool. The apparatus can be mounted, via a lower flange, on a multi-axis machine to obtain spatial motion together with the corresponding production tool. The apparatus can comprise a housing inside which can be a linear actuator connected to guides. Mechanical connection between a ball screw and the upper flange can contain a force sensor and at least one spherical joint. The connection between the spherical joint and the upper flange can be formed using a mechanical dissipative element made of elastic dissipative elements and a disc plate positioned between the elastic dissipative elements.