Numerically controlled machine tool system capable of setting up tools

Abstract

A numerically controlled machine tool system having a tool transfer device which, with a change in the kind of workpieces to be machined in a numerically controlled machine tool, operates to replace successively unnecessary dedicated tools in a tool magazine of the machine tool with next to be used dedicated tools supplied to the vicinity of the tool magazine. A central processor reads out from an external memory device one of the numerical control (NC) programs corresponding to the kind of a lot of workpieces to be machined and transmits the NC program to a numerical controller. In advance of the machining of a last one of the lot of workpieces, the central processor modifies the NC program by inserting respectively into correct portions of the NC program a number of replacing command data each instructing that one of the dedicated tools in the tool magazine designated by one of the replacing command data be replaced. When the numerical controller executes the modified NC program for machining the last one of the lot of workpieces, tool replacing operations according to the replacing command data are successively carried out. Accordingly, during the machining of the last one of the lot of workpieces, the dedicated tools in the tool magazine designated by the replacing command data are successively indexed to a tool replacing position of the tool magazine and are successively replaced by the transfer device with the next used dedicated tools in the vicinity of the tool magazine.