In a machine tool having a tool carrier (1) that comprises at least one receptacle (4) for a tool holder (3) for driven or stationary tools a tool change device is provided that comprises gripping means (370) for gripping the tool holder (3) at the housing (7) or at part (71) connected with the housing (7). In addition to the gripping means the tool change device comprises a device for actuating the fastening means that are configured for attachment of the tool holder at the tool carrier.

A machine tool stores numerous end effectors without a need to newly provide an end effector storage internally or externally to the machine tool. A temporary base for the end effector is disposed inside the machine tool. The end effector is passed from an internally-mounted robot to a tool post via the temporary base. A tool of the machine tool can be exchanged by attaching the end effector to the tool post. The end effector is stored in a tool storage of the machine tool

A tool exchange device for tool magazine includes a base having a driving member, a pressure cylinder, a movement member pivotally connected to the base adjacent to the driving member, and a tool retrieving member disposed on the movement member. The driving member has a connection portion and a twisting portion. The pressure cylinder has a piston rod pivotally connected to the connection portion for driving the driving member. The twisting portion is removably received in a receiving portion of the movement member. With the rotation of the driving member, the twisting portion forces the movement member to move along an arc shape route, such that the movement member rotates by an angle, and the tool retrieving member sways between a vertical and horizontal positions. Therefore, the tool exchange device is driven with a lower force, and the tool retrieving tool stably sways.

A gripper device includes at least one gripper unit which is at least designed to, in at least one work step, grip and/or move a tool and/or a tool holder with at least one tool, and at least one protective unit, which is designed to at least substantially encompass at least a work region of the tool at least in part during the work step. The protective unit is fastened, at least in part during the work step, at least to the gripper unit.

A separable robotic interface is provided. The separable robotic interface includes a carrier portion, configured to attach to a free end of a robotic arm, and a probe portion, configured to be attached to a toolhead. The carrier portion includes a spring-loaded plug, coaxial with and arranged to slide lengthwise within the carrier portion, one or more ball bearings, arranged within holes of the carrier portion, and an axial lock feature. The probe portion may include a probe, which includes one or more recesses on lateral exterior surfaces of the probe and configured to receive ball bearings in order to axially lock the carrier portion to the probe portion in response to the probe portion inserted a predetermined distance into the carrier portion and the axial lock feature is activated. The probe portion is further configured to radially align with the carrier portion in response to an alignment feature engages the carrier portion.

A machine tool includes: a tool holder which includes a key groove; a spindle drive unit which includes a spindle key that can be fitted into the key groove of the tool holder and a spindle and which removably holds the tool holder; a tool exchanger which includes a grip key and a grip that holds the tool holder at a fixed position with respect to the spindle; and a numerical controller which controls the tool exchanger so as to fit and remove the tool holder with respect to the spindle, and the numerical controller controls the spindle drive unit such that when the tool holder is fitted to the spindle, in a state where the key groove of the tool holder is inserted in the spindle key, the spindle is rotated to press the spindle key to the key groove so as to determine the phase of the tool holder with respect to the spindle.

An arrangement for processing workpieces includes at least one processing machine, a machine magazine assigned to a respective processing machine for accommodating processing tools, and a robot arranged on a driverless base frame. Processing tools may be supplied to and/or removed again from the machine magazine using the driverless base frame. The driverless base frame is additionally provided with a temporary magazine for accommodating processing tools.

A tool transport device includes a moving device, a tool attachment/detachment robot (30), a tool holding device (20), and a controller and transports a tool body (TB) between a tool magazine of a machine tool and a tool storage device. The tool attachment/detachment robot (30) and the tool holding device (20) are arranged on a moving platform (15) of the moving device, and the moving device moves the moving platform (15) to a working position for the tool magazine and a working position for the tool storage device. The tool attachment/detachment robot (30) transports the tool body (TB) by gripping an outer surface of the tool body (TB). The tool holding device (20) has a tool holding member (21, 23) having a cutout-shaped holding portion (22, 24) formed on a side face thereof. The tool body (TB) is to be held by two parallel engagement surfaces formed in a direction perpendicular to an axis of the tool body (TB) engaging with the holding portion (22, 24). The holding portion (22, 24) is formed on the tool holding member (21, 23) to be inclined backward in a direction away from the tool attachment/detachment robot (30).

A cutting edge part changing apparatus for changing a cutting edge part fastened by a screw includes a cylindrical member, a cylindrical member holder that supports the cylindrical member movably along the direction of a central axis, and a driver bit that is inserted into the cylindrical member to be axially rotatable independently of the cylindrical member. A gap is provided as an air passage between the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical member and the outer peripheral surface of the driver bit. Since the part to be changed can be sucked together with the screw, the efficiency of the operation of changing the part to be changed together with the screw is improved.

A method for machining a workpiece includes using a multi-axis robot to lift a tool head from a magazine. The robot attaches the tool head to an end of a drill tube. The drill tube is then rotated and longitudinally translated to machine the workpiece. The tool head is withdrawn from the machined workpiece longitudinally by moving the drill tube. The robot is used to disconnect the tool head, replace the disconnected tool head into a magazine and withdraw a different tool head from the magazine for attachment to the drill tube.