Patent ID: 7128506

Claim:
A toolhead for multi-axis machine tools, comprising: a tool-holder rotatable about a respective machining axis, equipped with a collet in which to hold a tool, and attachable to the spindle of a spindlehead in a multi-axis machine tool; a stop cage element slidable axially relative to the tool-holder, affording an active surface set transverse to the machining axis and positionable against the surface of a workpiece, capable of movement between a first operating position in which the active surface is located forward of a cutting portion presented by the tool, relative to a feed direction along which the spindlehead approaches the surface of the work, and a second operating position in which the cutting portion of the tool is located forward of the active surface, at least in part, sensing means by which the axial position of the stop cage element relative to the tool-holder is monitored continuously, an auxiliary housing mounted rotatably to the tool-holder and associated rigidly with said tool-holder in the axial direction, wherein the stop cage element is mounted slideably to the auxiliary housing.