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.

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 numerical controller (100) capable of shortening the cycle time during tool replacement without modifying an existing program is provided. A numerical controller (100) includes a block information checking unit (108) that analyzes a program for respective blocks. When it is determined that one or two or more feed axis positioning commands are present before a tool replacement command found in the analysis result of the program, the block information checking unit (108) modifies the analysis result of the program so that a rotating tool axis orientation operation in the tool replacement command is executed during execution of a feed axis positioning command in any one of the one or two or more feed axis positioning command blocks.

A tool information read/write device capable of being used in an automatic tool changer to which a conventional tool information read/write device cannot be applied, and a machine tool having the tool information read/write device. The read/write device has an arm section attached to a turret support part; a base section attached to the arm section; a slide section arranged on the base section so as to be linearly moved; a read/write head section attached to the slide section and configured to read/write information to a data carrier of a tool held by the turret; a drive section which drives the slide section so that the slide section reciprocates between a read/write position and an evacuation position; and a control section which controls the drive section in conjunction with a motion of the automatic tool changer.

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 numerical controller (100) capable of shortening the cycle time during tool replacement without modifying an existing program is provided. A numerical controller (100) includes a block information checking unit (108) that analyzes a program for respective blocks. When it is determined that one or two or more feed axis positioning commands are present before a tool replacement command found in the analysis result of the program, the block information checking unit (108) modifies the analysis result of the program so that a rotating tool axis orientation operation in the tool replacement command is executed during execution of a feed axis positioning command in any one of the one or two or more feed axis positioning command blocks.

A method is proposed for controlling tool change operations on a machine tool, wherein a machining procedure on a workpiece includes a sequence of machining operations having in each case a particular tool and in each case a particular duration, and for a tool change, tools of a tool spindle are provided by a second storage device in communication with a first storage device, and wherein there is associated with the machining procedure a sequence of tool provision operations in which a tool provision operation has in each case a particular duration, wherein the method includes a determination stage wherein the durations of the machining operations and the tool provision operations are determined, and a control stage wherein the tool provision operations are temporally grouped in relation to the machining operations such that the tool provision operations bring about a minimized idle time in the machining procedure.