Patent ID: 6637302
Filing Date: 2003-10-28
Classification: B23Q,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A machining system comprising:a first machine tool assembly comprising a first workpiece holder and a first machining unit for performing a processing operation on a workpiece held by the first workpiece holder; a second machine tool assembly comprising a second workpiece holder and a second machining unit for performing a processing operation on a workpiece held by the second workpiece holder; a base assembly on which the first and second machine tool assemblies are supported in an operative position and having a top and bottom, at least a part of the first machine tool assembly being repositionable by movement along a first line, at least a part of the second machine tool assembly being repositionable by movement along a second line that is non-parallel to the first line, the parts of the first and second machine tool assemblies being relatively repositionable along the first and second lines to facilitate transfer of a workpiece between the first and second machine tool assemblies; and an upwardly opening receptacle for collecting foreign matter, wherein the base comprises a flat surface that is uninterrupted from a location adjacent to the first workpiece holder to a bottom edge of the base residing over the receptacle so that foreign matter removed from a workpiece at the first workpiece holder is guided by the flat surface over the bottom edge into the upwardly opening receptacle.