The invention relates to a device for monitoring the contact of a workpiece (1) or tool on a spindle (2) of a machine tool, which device has a contact surface (3) for the workpiece (1) or tool. At least one measurement nozzle (4) is arranged in the region of the contact surface in order to produce a fluid flow directed away from the contact surface (3). Upstream of the measurement nozzle, the fluid flow is conducted through a vacuum nozzle, which can comprise a jet nozzle (7c) and a collector nozzle (7b). When the fluid medium flows through the vacuum nozzle, the vacuum nozzle produces a negative pressure in a negative pressure chamber (9c). A pressure sensor (6) or pressure switch senses a measurement pressure (p3) in the negative pressure chamber.

A sensor (10) for inspecting a tool (28) of a machine tool (24) is provided that has a radio frequency transmitter (12) for generating a radio frequency signal, a radio frequency receiver (14) for generating a received signal from a received radio frequency signal, a coupling unit (16) to couple a radio frequency signal into the tool (28) and to decouple it from the tool (28), and a control and evaluation unit (20) to determine a time of flight of a radio frequency signal transmitted from the radio frequency transmitter (12) and received again by the radio frequency receiver (14) with reference to the received signal of the radio frequency receiver (14).

In an embodiment, a method for automatically generating object inspections includes generating a preliminary list of inspection directions for an object to be inspected. The method also includes checking a compatibility of the preliminary list of inspection directions with each of a plurality of surfaces of the object. The method also includes creating a master set of direction-surface pairs responsive to the checking. The method also includes selecting candidate inspection points for each direction-surface pair in the master set of direction-surface pairs. The method also includes, responsive to a determination that the plurality of surfaces each have at least one compatible inspection direction indicated in the master set of direction-surface pairs, generating an optimized set of direction-surface pairs using a minimization algorithm. The method also includes returning the optimized set of direction-surface pairs and corresponding inspection points.

A wire electrical discharge machine acquires measured dimensions of a test workpiece that has been machined with a wire electrode inclined at a given angle with respect to a running direction in which the wire electrode runs; and calculates, based on the measured dimensions, first actual information indicating an actual holding position at which the wire electrode is actually held at a first die guide for guiding the wire electrode to a workpiece, and second actual information indicating an actual holding position at which the wire electrode is actually held at a second die guide for guiding the wire electrode sent from the workpiece, and, when necessary, the wire electrical discharge machine rewrites first information and second information stored in a storage unit to the calculated first actual information and second actual information.

A machine tool for machine processing workpieces by using a tool having a pull stud at a proximal end portion thereof. The machine tool includes a tool magazine having a number of tool holders each of which is capable of attaching and detaching the tool, a spindle which holds the tool at the time of machine processing the workpieces, and a controller which determines whether or not the pull stud is appropriate on the basis of detected data of a visual sensor which is provided inside or outside the machine tool, and which captures images of the pull stud of a tool holder of the tool, or detected data of a sensor which is provided inside the tool magazine, and which measures length, electric resistance, or electric capacity of the pull stud.

An automated tool clamping device, in particular a fully automated tool clamping device is configured for a clamping-in of at least one tool in a tool chuck by a tightening of a union nut of the tool chuck and/or for a declamping of the tool out of the tool chuck by a release of the union nut, and comprises a clamp element, which is at least configured to generate a connection, in particular a clamp connection, with the union nut of the tool chuck, and comprises a torque receiving element, which is at least configured to receive at least a large portion of a torque occurring during a tool clamping process, in particular during a tool clamping-in process and/or a tool declamping process.

A machine integrated positioning system shows an operator where to place a raw part in the press brake or other machinery. Further, the operator is informed if the dimensions associated with the raw part are, or are not, correct to produce the planned finished part. The operator is visually shown how the raw part is to be oriented. The operator is informed if the raw part is right-side-up, along with other pre-final placement information. If these and other conditions are not met, the machine integrated positioning system may prevent the press brake and other machinery from cycling.

In the case of a clamping device (1) for holding a workpiece (3) to be machined by a machine tool (2), which is used in particular as a clamping chuck, vice or zero point clamping system, consisting of a housing (4), a supporting element (6), which is a component of the housing (4) or is fastened thereto, and thereby forms a supporting surface (6'), on which the respective workpiece (3) rests during the machining process, at least one clamping jaw (7) that is mounted in the housing (4) so it is axially movable and a counter-stop formed by the housing (4) or an axially movable clamping jaw (8), between which the workpiece (3) is clamped in the region of the supporting surface (6') or at least three clamping jaws (7, 8, 9) mounted in the housing (4) so they are axially movable, between which the workpiece (3) is clamped in the region of the supporting surface (6'), a reliable and verifiable monitoring of the distance between the workpiece (3) and the supporting surface (6') and/or the clamping jaws (7, 8, 9) is supposed to take place at the clamping device (1) before and during the entire machining process, without extensive constructional measures being required for this. This is achieved in that at least one free space (11) is integrated in the housing (4), the axis of symmetry of which runs perpendicular to the supporting surface (6') and which faces the clamped workpiece (3) with the open front side, and/or that at least one free space (11) is integrated in one of the clamping jaws (7, 8, 9), which free space leads to the respective clamping surface (7', 8', 9') of the clamping jaws (7, 8, 9), that a proximity sensor (12) is inserted in the respective free space (11), that, via the proximity sensor (12), a monitoring area (13) is formed between the supporting surface (6') and the workpiece (3), which is monitored by an analysis unit (14) with respect to the presence of the workpiece (3).

An ascent-detecting air supply port (33), a descent-detecting air supply port (43), and an air discharge port (44) are provided to a housing (2). The ascent-detecting air supply port (33) is communicatively connected to an air outlet (38) by an ascent-detecting air passage (39). The descent-detecting air supply port (43) is communicatively connected to the air discharge port (44) by a descent-detecting air passage (45). The descent-detecting air passage (45) is closed by a valve mechanism (49) including: a valve surface (50) provided on a piston portion (15); and a valve seat (51) provided on an inner surface of the housing (2), when an advance piston (14) is retracted to a lowered position.

There is proposed a method for examining the clamping state of a tool holder or tool which is clamped in a tool clamping device of a rotor unit of a motor-driven machine tool unit, with the spacing of the sensor head from a component of the rotor unit being measured, with a recording of at least one time and/or position-related sequence of the spacing values measured with the sensor head, wherein for improved integration of the method the recording of a first and a second time and/or position-related sequence is carried out during an acceleration of the rotation of the rotor unit with respect to the stator unit, in particular when the rotor unit is started up, wherein the time and/or position-related information of the sequence vectors of the first and/or second sequence is scaled using the respective associated current speed (v.sub.0).