Machining center

A machining center for machining workpieces (26), comprising at least one work unit (22, 22' and 22") having at least one work spindle (23) able to be driven in rotation and adapted to be fitted with a machining tool (24) with which at least one workpiece (26) arranged in a machining zone (28) may be machined, a workpiece carrier (15) on which the workpiece may be releasably held by means of a holding device (25) arranged on the workpiece carrier (15), the work unit (22, 22' and 22") and the workpiece carrier (15) being able to be shifted in relation to one another, a positioning device (16) for the workpiece carrier (15) by which the workpiece carrier (15) is able to be shifted between the machining zone (28) and a workpiece change station (35) located outside the machining zone (28), and a gripper for the change over from workpieces (26) to be machined and workpieces already machined, the gripper receiving the workpiece (26) from a workpiece get-ready site (37) in the workpiece change station (35) from above or from the side, lifting the same and conveying it into the machining zone (28) and, after machining, depositing it at a workpiece deposit site (38) in the workpiece change over station (35) from above or from the side, wherein the holding device (25) on the workpiece carrier (15) constitutes the gripper and the gripper moves the workpiece (26) into machining engagement, the respective workpiece (26), which is respectively to be machined, remaining constantly on the gripper (25) from pickup until renewed deposit in the workpiece change station and accordingly also during intermediate machining by the machining tool (24) which is arranged on the rotating work spindle (23) of the work unit (22, 22' and 22") and in that the workpiece carrier (15) is arranged in a replaceable manner on the positioning device (16) jointly with the holding device (25);

• wherein one workpiece carrier change device (58) is provided;
• wherein the workpiece carrier change device (58) possesses a bifurcated holder (62) with two loading sites (66 and 67) for workpiece carriers (15 and 15').

A machining center for machining workpieces (26), comprising at least one work unit (22, 22' and 22") having at least one work spindle (23) able to be driven in rotation and adapted to be fitted with a machining tool (24) with which at least one workpiece (26) arranged in a machining zone (28) may be machined, a workpiece carrier (15) on which the workpiece may be releasably held by means of a holding device (25) arranged on the workpiece carrier (15), the work unit (22, 22' and 22") and the workpiece carrier (15) being able to be shifted in relation to one another, a positioning device (16) for the workpiece carrier (15) by which the workpiece carrier (15) is able to be shifted between the machining zone (28) and a workpiece change station (35) located outside the machining zone (28), and a gripper for the change over from workpieces (26) to be machined and workpieces already machined, the gripper receiving the workpiece (26) from a workpiece get-ready site (37) in the workpiece change station (35) from above or from the side, lifting the same and conveying it into the machining zone (28) and, after machining, depositing it at a workpiece deposit site (38) in the workpiece change over station (35) from above or from the side, wherein the holding device (25) on the workpiece carrier (15) constitutes the gripper and the gripper moves the workpiece (26) into machining engagement, the respective workpiece (26), which is respectively to be machined, remaining constantly on the gripper (25) from pickup until renewed deposit in the workpiece change station and accordingly also during intermediate machining by the machining tool (24) which is arranged on the rotating work spindle (23) of the work unit (22, 22' and 22") and in that the workpiece carrier (15) is arranged in a replaceable manner on the positioning device (16) jointly with the holding device (25);

• wherein one workpiece carrier change device (58) is provided;
• wherein the workpiece carrier change device (58) has an associated workpiece carrier magazine (57) for workpiece carriers (15 and 15') with different holding devices (25).