Machine tool for processing a workpiece and method for processing the workpiece

1. A machine tool ( 100 ) for machining a workpiece, the machine tool comprising:

a machine table ( 10 ) for clamping said workpiece;

a work spindle ( 20 ) for receiving a tool for machining said workpiece;

a work space in which said workpiece is machined by said tool, which work space is substantially defined by said machine table ( 10 ) and by at least one first cover ( 30 ) when said at least one first cover is at a first position; and

a tool changer ( 50 ) arranged outside said work space and configured to change the tool received in said work spindle ( 20 );

wherein said machine tool ( 100 ) is further configured such that, during a tool change;

said at least one first cover ( 30 ) is moved from the first position, as a result of which movement said work space of said machine tool ( 100 ) becomes contiguous with a tool changing area ( 80 ), and also as a result of which movement an access surface ( 42 ), through which said tool changer ( 50 ) can be moved into said tool changing area ( 80 ), is exposed; and

said work spindle ( 20 ) is positioned in said tool changing area ( 80 ) such that said tool changer ( 50 ) is able to change the tool received by said work spindle ( 20 ) within said tool changing area ( 80 ).

2. The machine tool ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that said work space of said machine tool ( 100 ) is additionally substantially defined by a second cover ( 40 ).

3. The machine tool ( 100 ) according to claim 2 , characterized in that the exposed access surface ( 42 ) extends substantially perpendicular to said second cover ( 40 ).

4. The machine tool ( 100 ) according to claim 2 , characterized in that the exposed access surface ( 42 ) extends substantially perpendicular to said machine table ( 10 ).

5. The machine tool ( 100 ) according to claim 2 , characterized in that,

when said workpiece is being machined, said access surface ( 42 ) is separated from said work space of said machine tool ( 100 ) by said at least one first cover ( 30 ) and by said second cover ( 40 ), wherein said at least one first cover ( 30 ) and said second cover ( 40 ) are arranged substantially coplanar with one another when said workpiece is being machined and separate said tool changing area ( 80 ) from said work space.

6. The machine tool ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that

at least said at least one first cover ( 30 ) is moved in a direction out of said work space in order to have said work space of said machine tool become contiguous with said tool changing area ( 80 ).

7. The machine tool ( 100 ) according to claim 6 , characterized in that

at least said at least one first cover ( 30 ) is moved by a separate drive ( 35 ) independently of a movement caused by a drive for moving said work spindle ( 20 ).

8. The machine tool ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that

said work spindle ( 20 ) is arranged on an end portion of a movable carrier ( 22 ), which movable carrier moves in a longitudinal direction of the movable carrier through an opening ( 32 ) in said at least one first cover ( 30 ).

9. The machine tool ( 100 ) according to claim 8 , characterized in that

a clamping surface of said machine table ( 10 ) spans an x-y plane,

said at least one first cover ( 30 ) substantially spans an x-z plane, and

said work spindle ( 20 ) is positioned in said tool changing area ( 80 ) by moving said carrier ( 22 ) along said longitudinal direction in order to position said work spindle ( 20 ) in the direction of the y-axis.

10. The machine tool ( 100 ) according to claim 8 , characterized in that

a clamping surface of said machine table ( 10 ) spans an x-y plane,

said at least one first cover ( 30 ) substantially spans an x-z plane, and

said tool changer ( 50 ) is arranged on a tool magazine ( 60 ) arranged laterally spaced apart in the x-direction next to said carrier ( 22 ).

11. The machine tool ( 100 ) according to claim 10 , characterized in that

said tool magazine ( 60 ) is separated from said work space of said machine tool ( 100 ) by said at least one first cover ( 30 ) and by said second cover ( 40 ) when said workpiece is being machined, wherein said at least one first cover ( 30 ) and said second cover ( 40 ) are arranged substantially coplanar with one another when said workpiece is being machined.

12. The machine tool ( 100 ) according to claim 10 , characterized in that, when said carrier ( 22 ) is being moved in the x-direction, said tool magazine ( 60 ) and said tool changer ( 50 ) are moved in parallel to said carrier ( 22 ).

13. The machine tool ( 100 ) according to claim 10 , characterized in that

said tool magazine ( 60 ) includes a linear drive ( 62 ) moving said tool changer ( 50 ) through said access surface ( 42 ) into said tool changing area ( 80 ) with which said work space of said machine tool ( 100 ) is contiguous.

14. The machine tool ( 100 ) according to claim 8 , characterized in that

the opening ( 32 ) in said at least one first cover ( 30 ), through which opening ( 32 ) said carrier ( 22 ) extends, includes at least one scraper ( 33 ) scraping material chips and/or cooling lubricants present on said carrier ( 22 ) off said carrier ( 22 ) when said work spindle ( 20 ) is moved in the longitudinal direction.

15. The machine tool ( 100 ) according to claim 14 , characterized in that

said machine tool ( 100 ) further includes, below said at least one first cover ( 30 ), a drainage plate ( 90 ) which catches cooling lubricants and material chips flowing off from said at least one first cover ( 30 ) during the tool change and diverts them to a collecting area.

16. The machine tool according ( 100 ) to claim 1 , characterized in that

a clamping surface of said machine table ( 10 ) spans an x-y plane, and

said at least one first cover ( 30 ) substantially spans an x-z plane.

17. The machine tool ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that

said tool changer ( 50 ) is configured as a double gripper.

18. A method for machining a workpiece on a machine tool ( 100 ) according to a numerically controlled (NC) program, said machine tool ( 100 ) comprising:

a machine table ( 10 ) for clamping said workpiece;

a work spindle ( 20 ) for receiving a tool for machining said workpiece;

a work space in which said workpiece is machined by said tool, which work space is substantially defined by said machine table ( 10 ) and by at least one first cover ( 30 ) when said at least one first cover is at a first position; and

a tool changer ( 50 ) arranged outside said work space and configured to change the tool received in said work spindle ( 20 ),

said method for machining said workpiece comprising the steps of:

clamping said workpiece on said machine table ( 10 ) of said machine tool;

receiving, in the work spindle ( 20 ), the tool for machining said workpiece; and

machining said workpiece according to said NC program; and

wherein the following steps are carried out during a tool change:

moving said at least one first cover ( 30 ) from the first position, as a result of which movement said work space of said machine tool ( 100 ) becomes contiguous with a tool changing area ( 80 ), and also as a result of which movement an access surface ( 42 ), through which said tool changer ( 50 ) can be moved into said tool changing area ( 80 ), is exposed;

moving said tool changer ( 50 ) through the exposed access surface ( 42 ) into said tool changing area ( 80 ), and

positioning said work spindle ( 20 ) in said tool changing area ( 80 ) such that said tool changer ( 50 ) is able to change the tool received by said work spindle ( 20 ) within said tool changing area ( 80 ).

19. The method according to claim 18 , characterized in that

said tool changer ( 50 ) is moved through the exposed access surface ( 42 ) into said tool changing area ( 80 ) independently of the step of positioning said work spindle ( 20 ) in said tool changing area ( 80 ).

20. The method according to claim 18 , characterized in that

said work spindle ( 20 ) is moved in a direction, independently of the movement of said at least one first cover ( 30 ) from the first position, which movement of said at least one first cover makes said work space contiguous with said tool changing area ( 80 ).