The present invention relates to a machining center, and more specifically to a horizontal multi-spindle machining center, in which 2-axis (Y- and Z-axis) or 3-axis (X-, Y- and Z-axis) transfer drive units are disposed in the machining center installed to machine workpieces, in which a ram equipped with spindles is moved in the up-down, front-back, and/or left-right directions of the workpieces, in which the spindles are configured to include a plurality of spindles, i.e., 2 to 8 spindles, so that a plurality of workpieces may be machined simultaneously, and in which tool change is simultaneously performed for tools fastened to the plurality of spindles and configured to machine workpieces by using an auto tool changer (ATC), so that tool change speed may be improved and thus manufacturing efficiency may be improved.

A machining center configured for machining workpieces includes at least one column, a beam, at least one slider, a first driving member, a second driving member, a first main shaft and a second main shaft. The column can be configured for supporting the beam. The slider can be disposed on the beam and slidable along a length direction of the beam. Both the first main shaft and the second main shaft can be arranged on the slider and located on two opposite sides of the beam. The first driving member can be configured for driving the slider to slide relative to the beam. The second driving member can be configured for driving the first main shaft and the second main shaft to operate. The first main shaft and the second main shaft can be configured for synchronously or asynchronously machining the workpieces.

There is provided a clamping mechanism, including: a housing which is movable to clamp or unclamp an object having clamping blocks; a clamping plate disposed in front of the housing; and a first elastic member applying a clamping force to the clamping plate by movement of the housing, wherein the clamping blocks have receiving grooves in which edges of the clamping plate are received.

A machine tool is provided with a vertically aligned tool spindle, which is equipped for accommodating tools and which is movable in a vertical direction and in a first horizontal direction. The machine tool further comprises at least one jig for clamping workpieces to be machined. The at least one jig is movable in a second horizontal direction. The tool spindle and the at least one jig are arranged on a common machine frame. There is also provided a workpiece transport device, which is arranged on the machine frame, and which is adapted to perform at least one of introducing unmachined workpieces into the at least one jig and removing machined workpieces from the at least one jig. There is also provided a corresponding method of machining workpieces.

The present invention relates to a machining center, and more specifically to a horizontal multi-spindle machining center, in which 2-axis (Y- and Z-axis) or 3-axis (X-, Y- and Z-axis) transfer drive units are disposed in the machining center installed to machine workpieces, in which a ram equipped with spindles is moved in the up-down, front-back, and/or left-right directions of the workpieces, in which the spindles are configured to include a plurality of spindles, i.e., 2 to 8 spindles, so that a plurality of workpieces may be machined simultaneously, and in which tool change is simultaneously performed for tools fastened to the plurality of spindles and configured to machine workpieces by using an auto tool changer (ATC), so that tool change speed may be improved and thus manufacturing efficiency may be improved.

Machine tool including a workpiece carrier assembly including a workpiece carrier for supporting a plurality of workpieces, the workpiece carrier assembly being supported on a workpiece carrier support for horizontal movement in a first direction parallel with a horizontal Z axis, a tool carrier configured for carrying a plurality of tools corresponding to the plurality of workpieces and for machining the workpieces, the tool carrier being supported on a tool carrier support for horizontal movement in a second direction parallel to a horizontal X axis, the X axis being perpendicular to the horizontal Z axis, where the tool carrier is displaceable on the tool carrier support in the second direction between an operative position in which the tools are arranged for the contacting the workpieces and an inoperative position in which the workpieces are not contactable by the tools, where the workpiece carrier is arranged to be rotatable around an axis parallel with the X axis, and where the workpiece carrier includes a workpiece support area for supporting the workpieces and arranged substantially in parallel with the X axis.

A levelling machine includes a pair of spaced apart rail assemblies, a gantry assembly and a face mill assembly. The spaced apart rail assemblies define an x axis. The gantry assembly is moveably attached to the pair of spaced apart rail assemblies whereby the gantry assembly defines a y axis. The gantry assembly is moveable in the x axis along the pair of spaced apart rail assemblies. The face mill assembly is moveably attached to the gantry assembly and is moveable in the y axis along the gantry assembly. The face mill assembly has a plurality of saw blades, the saw blades being generally in an x-y plane defined by the x axis and y axis. The saw blades have a plurality of teeth that extend downwardly generally in a z axis. The face mill assembly is moveable in the z axis.

A machine tool is provided with a vertically aligned tool spindle, which is equipped for accommodating tools and which is movable in a vertical direction and in a first horizontal direction. The machine tool further comprises at least one jig for clamping workpieces to be machined. The at least one jig is movable in a second horizontal direction. The tool spindle and the at least one jig are arranged on a common machine frame. There is also provided a workpiece transport device, which is arranged on the machine frame, and which is adapted to perform at least one of introducing unmachined workpieces into the at least one jig and removing machined workpieces from the at least one jig. There is also provided a corresponding method of machining workpieces.

A machining center configured for machining workpieces includes at least one column, a beam, at least one slider, a first driving member, a second driving member, a first main shaft and a second main shaft. The column can be configured for supporting the beam. The slider can be disposed on the beam and slidable along a length direction of the beam. Both the first main shaft and the second main shaft can be arranged on the slider and located on two opposite sides of the beam. The first driving member can be configured for driving the slider to slide relative to the beam. The second driving member can be configured for driving the first main shaft and the second main shaft to operate. The first main shaft and the second main shaft can be configured for synchronously or asynchronously machining the workpieces.

The invention relates to a transport apparatus (10) for the collision-free loading and unloading of a material machining unit (1) with a workpiece (5) comprising a guide apparatus (60), a plurality of transport devices (15, 16, 17, 18), wherein one of the transport devices (15) is arranged on a first transport device level (20), as well as another transport device (16) being arranged on another transport device level (21). A multifunctional tooling apparatus (25) for transporting and/or machining the workpiece (5) or the workpiece part is arranged on the transport device (15). Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for loading and unloading the material machining unit (1) using such a transport apparatus (10), as well as a computer program product for loading and unloading according to this method and using such a transport device (10).