System for checking tool breakages on a machining center

System for checking tool breakages on a machining center equipped with a tool magazine and a numerically controlled machine tool, said system having photographing means, processing means, control means and display means, said system comprises a first camera for taking pictures of each tool in the magazine in accordance with at least one first plane;

• positioning control means for putting into place the tool which will carry out the machining of a part and arrange said first camera for obtaining at least one picture of said tool according to said first plane both before and after said tool has machined said part;
• processing and control means for processing pictures obtained by said first camera to carry out a comparison of these two pictures, supplying a positive or negative checking signal as a function of the comparison result, allocating said tool to be checked to a first or a second class as a function of its physical characteristics obtained by the processing of the picture of said tool prior to machining, and producing a regulating signal on the basis of a first physical characteristic of the tool and if necessary, controlling and regulating the focussing of a second camera on the basis of said regulating signal in order to take a picture both before and after machining to at least one second plane perpendicular to said first plane and as a function of the class to which the tool belongs.