Numerically controlled machine tool with automatic tool exchange device and indexing device

A numerically controlled machine tool, comprising:

• a spindle head for supporting a spindle such that the spindle is rotatable about a first axis;
• a tool detachably attached to the spindle such that the tool rotates with the spindle about the first axis;
• a table for supporting a work piece such that the tool may contact and machine the work piece;
• a frame for supporting the spindle head and table to allow relative movement between the spindle head and the table along the first axis;
• change distance calculation means for calculating a change distance between the spindle head and the table based on the size of the work piece and the longer of the length of the tool in the spindle or the length of the tool in the tool exchange position, the change distance being the minimum distance necessary for relative movement between the tool in the spindle and the work piece when the tool is not machining the work piece without allowing the tool and the work piece to contact during the relative movement;
• drive means, operatively associated with said change distance calculation means, for changing the distance along the first axis between the spindle head and the table such that the distance from the spindle head to the table is equal to the change distance;
• a tool magazine supported on a side of the spindle head, where the tool magazine rotates about a second axis orthogonal to the first axis;
• a plurality of tool holding means, located on an outer periphery of the tool magazine, for holding tools, where, by rotating the tool magazine about the second axis, any of the tools in the plurality of tool holding means may be moved into a tool exchange position;
• tool exchange means, supported on the spindle head such that the tool exchange means rotates about and moves along a third axis parallel to the first axis, for exchanging a tool in the tool magazine for a tool in the spindle;
• the drive means changing the distance between the spindle head and the table before the tool exchange means exchanges the tool in the tool exchange position for the tool in the spindle;
• and
• control means for controlling the tool magazine and the tool exchange means by generating a magazine rotation instruction prior to generating a tool exchange instruction, where the magazine rotation instruction instructs the tool magazine to rotate such that a next desired tool is placed in the tool exchange position, and the tool exchange instruction instructs the tool exchange means to exchange the tool in the tool exchange position for the tool in the spindle when the distance between the spindle head and the table equals the change distance.

A numerically controlled machine tool, comprising:

• a spindle head for supporting a spindle such that the spindle is rotatable about a first axis;
• a tool detachably attached to the spindle such that the tool rotates with the spindle about the first axis;
• a table for supporting a work piece such that the tool may contact and machine the work piece;
• a frame for supporting the spindle head and table such that the spindle head moves relative to the table along the first axis;
• a tool magazine for accommodating tools supported on a side of the spindle head, where the tool magazine rotates about a second axis orthogonal to the first axis;
• a plurality of tool holding means, located on an outer periphery of the tool magazine, for holding tools, where, by rotating the tool magazine about the second axis, any of the tools in the plurality of tool holding means may be moved into a tool exchange position;
• tool exchange means, integrally formed with and supported on the spindle head and the tool magazine such that the tool exchange means rotates about and moves along a third axis parallel to the first axis, for exchanging a tool accommodated in the tool magazine for a tool attached to the spindle;
• tool exchange distance calculation means for calculating a tool exchange distance based on parameters of a tool in the tool exchange position, a tool in the spindle, and the work piece and including means that detect the size of the tool and the size of the workpiece;
• and
• drive means, operatively associated with said tool exchange distance calculation means, for moving the spindle head along the first axis relative to the table such that the spindle head is the tool exchange distance away from the table before the tool exchange means exchanges the tool in the tool exchange position for the tool in the spindle.