Patent ID: 7547270

Claim:
A machine tool having generally perpendicular X, Y, and Z axes of movement, and the machine tool having a working zone containing a working tool, the machine tool comprising: a Y-axis column; a tool magazine mounted on the side of the Y-axis column; an automatic tool changer for the tools in the tool magazine; guarding surrounding the X, Y, and Z axes of the machine tool, the Y-axis column, the tool magazine and the automatic tool changer; an operator station for the machine tool including a control panel for the machine tool and located on the outside of the guarding and positioned on the same side of the machine tool as the tool magazine and the automatic tool changer such that the tool magazine and tool changer are located between the operator station and the working zone, whereby an operator has visual access to the tool magazine and the automatic tool changer from the operator station; a machining observation window in the guarding at the operator station; and a first sightline from the operator station through the machining observation window to the working tool, whereby the operator has visual access to the working tool from the operator station.