A tool changer for a machine tool is provided with a command unit for outputting a change command for a tool storage position to a control unit, which turns a tool magazine with a tool mounted on a spindle and controls an index unit to index a predetermined tool grip portion to a tool change position on receiving the change command for the tool storage position from the command unit.

Provided is a method and a device for the computer-aided optimization of tool transportation operations for at least one tool magazine that has a number of magazine spaces and is used or is able to be used for a machine tool that is used to produce one or more workpieces with the aid of the tools provided at a provision space by a magazine device. The input comprises the set of tools and the space requirement of each tool and a permissible starting magazine occupancy. In step 1, a set of available time intervals is determined. In step 2, one or more tool transportation operations are assigned to a respective time interval under the condition that the movement period for the tool transportation operation is less than or equal to the length of the time interval. In step 3, one or more tool transportation operations are performed.

A numerical controller performs control for changing a tool mounted on a spindle to another tool stored in a tool magazine based on a machining program. The numerical controller analyzes a command by a block of the machining program, predicts a time required for machining by the analyzed command, and selects a tool changeable before a tool change command, during tool selection, based on the predicted time.

A machine tool, which has a tool magazine for storing multiple tools and is for machining a workpiece with a tool held on a main shaft by moving the main shaft relative to the workpiece, wherein the machine tool is provided with: multiple feed shafts for moving the tool relative to the workpiece; a tool magazine drive motor for driving the tool magazine; and a manual pulse generator, which is for sending a positive or negative command pulse to the multiple feed shafts or tool magazine drive motor, the manual pulse generator being provided with a selection switch for selecting one of the multiple feed shafts or the tool magazine drive motor as the destination to which the command pulse is to be sent.

A machine tool, which has a tool magazine for storing multiple tools and is for machining a workpiece with a tool held on a main shaft by moving the main shaft relative to the workpiece, wherein the machine tool is provided with: multiple feed shafts for moving the tool relative to the workpiece; a tool magazine drive motor for driving the tool magazine; and a manual pulse generator, which is for sending a positive or negative command pulse to the multiple feed shafts or tool magazine drive motor, the manual pulse generator being provided with a selection switch for selecting one of the multiple feed shafts or the tool magazine drive motor as the destination to which the command pulse is to be sent.

A numerical controller performs control for changing a tool mounted on a spindle to another tool stored in a tool magazine based on a machining program. The numerical controller analyzes a command by a block of the machining program, predicts a time required for machining by the analyzed command, and selects a tool changeable before a tool change command, during tool selection, based on the predicted time.