A machining head is provided with a turret on which multiple rotating tools are mounted, and this head is configured such that rotation of each of the multiple rotating tools during machining and rotation of the turret are performed by a single motor. A switchable turret rotation transmission mechanism is disposed to be capable of transmitting the rotation of the motor shaft to the turret as the rotation of the turret and releasing the transmission. The rotation of each of the multiple rotating tools during the machining and the rotation of the turret can be performed by the single motor.

In order to provide a tool changer that can detect an entry of a foreign substance into a turret mechanism portion or wear of a turret mechanism part, a tool changer of the present invention includes a reference phase false detection sensing portion that monitors load variations which occur in a turret drive source and detects an entry of a foreign substance into the turret mechanism portion based on a difference between the load variations and a reference load used as a reference. Moreover, the reference phase false detection sensing portion can also detect the progress of wear of the turret mechanism part based on the integral of the absolute value of a difference between the load variations which occur in the turret drive source and the reference load used as a reference.

In some examples, a moveable member including multiple tools is moveable relative to a fixed member to position a selected tool for performing an operation. A first connector half may be included on the fixed member for connecting to one of a plurality of second connector halves included on the moveable member. Movement of the moveable member to position the selected tool for performing the operation moves a respective second connector half associated with the selected tool into connection with the first connector half. In addition, a respective nozzle assembly may be associated with each tool. The respective nozzle assembly may receive multiple fluids including at least one fluid received through the connection between the connector halves. The nozzle assembly includes an inner nozzle that outputs a gas and an annular outer nozzle that outputs a machining liquid to generate a mixture to direct toward a tool-workpiece interface.

In some examples, a moveable member including multiple tools is moveable relative to a fixed member to position a selected tool for performing an operation. A first connector half may be included on the fixed member for connecting to one of a plurality of second connector halves included on the moveable member. Movement of the moveable member to position the selected tool for performing the operation moves a respective second connector half associated with the selected tool into connection with the first connector half. In addition, a respective nozzle assembly may be associated with each tool. The respective nozzle assembly may receive multiple fluids including at least one fluid received through the connection between the connector halves. The nozzle assembly includes an inner nozzle that outputs a gas and an annular outer nozzle that outputs a machining liquid to generate a mixture to direct toward a tool-workpiece interface.

Complementary systems are provided for use with industrial punch presses which enhance the functionality of the presses relative to the machining of workpieces. The systems can be adapted to function with certain already-existing structure and operations of the presses, to maximize overall effectiveness and efficiency in using the systems with the presses. Alternately, or in combination, the systems can be linked to one or more functionalities of the punch presses, whereby these functionalities can be used in manipulating the systems when used with the presses.

A tool-changing carrier, that is to say a tool turret (1) with a rotary turret unit having at least two tool mounts (9) and arranged such that it can be rotated relative to a basic turret body (12), has radiation-transmission means which are provided for passing electromagnetic radiation through the tool-changing carrier or along the same. A tool system comprises such a tool-changing carrier and at least two tool heads (3, 5, 15, 17, 18, 27, 34, 40, 43), intended for fixing on the tool mounts (9), wherein at least one tool head is an optical tool head (3, 15, 17, 18) which is suitable for exposing a workpiece (11) to electromagnetic radiation and has a tool optics unit (23) for deflecting and/or forming the electromagnetic radiation.

In order to provide a tool changer that can detect an entry of a foreign substance into a turret mechanism portion or wear of a turret mechanism part, a tool changer of the present invention includes a reference phase false detection sensing portion that monitors load variations which occur in a turret drive source and detects an entry of a foreign substance into the turret mechanism portion based on a difference between the load variations and a reference load used as a reference. Moreover, the reference phase false detection sensing portion can also detect the progress of wear of the turret mechanism part based on the integral of the absolute value of a difference between the load variations which occur in the turret drive source and the reference load used as a reference.

In a tool exchanger apparatus of a machine tool including a turret which turns around an axis inclining with respect to a vertical direction and which conveys tools, forces applied to tool gripping portions are calculated from a resultant force of a centrifugal force, gravity and an inertial force applied to each of the tools, using a weight and a position of each of the tools and a turning speed and a turning acceleration of the turret for each of turning phases when the turret turns, and the turning speed and the turning acceleration of the turret are determined for each of the turning phases.