A machining centre includes a base supporting several superposed stages. At least one stage is movable and can be position indexed relative to the base. Each stage includes distinct stations at a constant angular pitch including machining units or grippers. The combination of stations from adjacent stages defines a plurality of machining locations each combining a unit and a gripper. Each relative movement between two indexing positions of two stages changes the composition of the locations. Each gripper has at least one rotational degree of freedom relative to the stage that carries it. At least one station includes both at least one machining unit and at least one gripper.

Apparatus for machining hubs for vehicles, comprising a first machining group (11) having a first number (n1) of first stations, an inbound transfer station (11a), an outbound transfer station (11b), a loading station (117) and an unloading station (118); a second machining group (12) having a second number (n2) of second stations, an inbound transfer station (12a) and an outbound transfer station (12b); a first rotating table (13) having a number of first workpiece-holder sectors (131) equal to the first number (n1); where the first sectors (131) face the first stations; a second rotating table (14) having a number of second sectors (141) equal to said second number (n2); the second sectors (141) face the second stations; a first transfer group (15) for transferring workpieces between the first machining group (11) and the second machining group (12).

A workpiece processing system is provided that includes a first carousel rotary conveyor associated with a first plurality of stations through which workpieces are successively rotationally conveyed, a second carousel rotary conveyor associated with a second plurality of stations through which the workpieces are successively rotationally conveyed, and an inter-carousel transport configured to selectively operate in a first mode and a second mode. In the first mode, the inter-carousel transport is operable to successively transfer the workpieces from the first carousel rotary conveyor to the second carousel rotary conveyor. In the second mode, the inter-carousel transport is operable to successively reorient the workpieces of a selected one of the first carousel rotary conveyor or the second carousel rotary conveyor by approximately 180 degrees of rotation for further successive rotational conveyance of the workpieces through the stations associated with the selected first or second carousel rotary conveyor.

A machining center, comprising: a number N of workpiece tables equal to or greater than three, a number N of first guides, which extend parallel to a first direction; along said first guides being movable respective to workpiece tables, one for each first guide, a number N−1 of second guides, which extend parallel to a second direction transverse to said first direction, a number N−1 of machining groups each comprising at least one machining head; each machining group being movable parallel to said second direction along a respective second guide; a number N×(N−1) of machining areas wherein the machining groups can operate on workpieces present on said tables; along each first guide, or for a respective table, there being present N−1 machining areas, one for each machining group, so that each machining group can operate, according to a programmed work cycle, on all said N workpiece tables, a number N of workpiece loading/unloading areas, one for each workpiece table.

A machining center includes a number N of workpiece tables. A number N of first guides extend parallel to a first direction. Along the first guides is movable respective to workpiece tables, one for each first guide. A number N-1 of second guides extend parallel to a second direction transverse to the first direction. A number N-1 of machining groups each include at least one machining head. Each machining group is movable parallel to the second direction along a respective second guide. A number N×(N-1) of machining areas is provided. The machining groups can operate on workpieces present on the tables. Along each first guide, or for a respective table, there is present N-1 machining areas, one for each machining group, so that each machining group can operate, according to a programmed work cycle, on all the N workpiece tables.

An operation method is described for a numerical control tooling machine comprising a piece-carrying table rotatable about a—in use—vertical axis and N machining stations, N≥2, arranged around the table, with the steps of rotating the table to bring a piece in front of a station, disconnecting the piece from the table, transferring the piece from the table to the station, fixing the piece to the station, processing the piece at the station, disconnecting the piece from the station, transferring the piece from the station to the table, fixing the piece to the table, rotating the table to bring the piece in front of a different station or unloading the piece from the table.

An improved numerical control tool machine is described comprising: a table turnable about an—in use—vertical axis, N processing stations, N≥2, arranged around the table, a support for a workpiece, the support being connected to the table for reaching in sequence the N stations and making the piece be processed thereat, comprising locking members for retaining the piece on itself during all the operations performed at the N stations, means (50, 60) for connecting the support to the table or releasing it depending on the state of a control input.

A machining center equipped with a device for mounting on a clamp parts to be worked or which have been worked, such as profiles, which has a supporting frame for supporting a turntable with two or more stepped positions or placements or workstations, an loading basket and an unloading basket.

The machining center comprises a robot configured to remove or to associate, with each one of said two or more stepped positions or placements or workstations, the parts or the profiles to be worked and which have been worked at a plurality of fixed RPS or reference points and mobile mechanical components, according to a single positioning that is adapted to allow access by machining devices to any zone in the space of the profiles to be worked by modifying only the condition that the two or more stepped positions or placements or workstations are in.

A method for mounting on a clamp parts or profiles in a processing center provided with a supporting frame for a turntable, comprising a robot for the loading/unloading of the profiles to be worked and of the subsequently worked profiles.

The method provides for the steps of inserting the profile to be worked, by means of the robot, in a region arranged below at least one first open clamp; resting the profile to be worked on at least one first lower fixed reference, resting the profile to be worked on a second and/or third front fixed reference, resting the profile to be worked on at least one fourth lateral fixed reference, laterally closing the profile to be worked and then upper closing of the profile to be worked.

A method for mounting on a clamp parts or profiles in a processing center provided with a supporting frame for a turntable, comprising a robot for the loading/unloading of the profiles to be worked and of the subsequently worked profiles. The method provides for the steps of inserting the profile to be worked, by means of the robot, in a region arranged below at least one first open clamp; resting the profile to be worked on at least one first lower fixed reference, resting the profile to be worked on a second and/or third front fixed reference, resting the profile to be worked on at least one fourth lateral fixed reference, laterally closing the profile to be worked and then upper closing of the profile to be worked.