An apparatus and a system comprise a collet comprising a top portion and a bottom portion. The top portion comprises a threading means. The bottom portion at least comprises means for holding the collet from rotating and means for retaining an end mill. A master comprises a top portion and a bottom portion. The top portion is configured for engagement with a spindle of a milling machine. The bottom portion comprises a threading means for engagement with the threading means of the collet, wherein the master is retained by the spindle and the collet engages and disengages the master by rotation of the spindle. The milling machine operates under computer control during engagement and disengagement of the collet from the master.

A method and apparatus for attaching a nozzle to a fluid dispensing system and a tip to the nozzle. In one illustrative example, the fluid dispensing system may be moved by a robotic device towards a nozzle retaining structure having nozzle retaining areas holding nozzles. A nozzle may be selected for use based on a nozzle identifier element corresponding to each of the nozzles. The robotic device may move the fluid dispensing system to the nozzle selected to attach the fluid dispensing system to the nozzle selected. Further, the fluid dispensing system may be moved by a robotic device towards a tip retaining structure having tip retaining areas holding tips. A tip may be selected for use based on a tip identifier element corresponding to each of the tips. The robotic device may move the fluid dispensing system to the tip selected to attach the nozzle to the tip selected.

A blade replacing device used in a cutting apparatus includes a holding section that detachably holds one surface side of a cutting blade, a moving section that relatively advances and retracts the holding section with holding the cutting blade relative to a spindle in an axial direction of the spindle, and positions the holding section at least at a mounting position at which the other surface of the cutting blade is equal to or less than a predetermined distance from a flange section of a blade mount, and at a released position at which the cutting blade is spaced from the blade mount, and a thickness information acquisition section for acquiring information concerning a thickness of the cutting blade. The mounting position of the holding section is adjusted according to the thickness of the cutting blade acquired by utilizing the thickness information acquisition section.

To provide a tool transfer apparatus including gripping force measuring unit for tool holding unit of a tool accommodation apparatus and a machining system including the tool transfer apparatus, a handling robot can perform operation of detaching a tool from a grip positioned at a tool attachment/detachment position of a tool magazine in a machine tool and transferring the tool to a tool stocker, and operation of transferring a tool from the tool stocker and attaching the tool to a grip positioned at the tool attachment/detachment position of the tool magazine. A hand portion of the handling robot is provided with a force sensor, which can detect a load applied to the hand portion. Also, a control apparatus of the handling robot and a control apparatus of the machine tool are connected via a data cable capable of transmission and reception of information.

In a machine tool in which a spindle head is driven by a spindle head drive motor via a ball screw/nut mechanism, tools of different weights are each installed in the spindle head beforehand, a load torque applied to the spindle head drive motor is obtained, and relational data between the tool weight and the load torque is stored. When each tool is installed in the spindle head, the weight of the tool is estimated from, the load torque detected by a load torque detection unit while the spindle head is stopped, and the relational data between the tool weight and load torque.