Reconfigurable workholding fixture
First Claim
1. A modular fixture member for holding a workpiece to a magnetized flat chuck plate comprising:
- a base of ferromagnetic material for magnetic attachment to the chuck plate, a hydraulically actuated workpiece support member fixed to said base, a hydraulic pump for delivery of hydraulic fluid to and from said support member, said pump being fixed to said base, and a fluid channel in said base for transporting hydraulic fluid between said pump and said support member.
13 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A reconfigurable fixture for workpieces is disclosed. It utilizes a flat surface magnetic chuck with modular workpiece supporting, locating and clamping elements that are carefully located on it and held by magnetic attraction to it. These elements are precisely located to hold the workpiece in spaced relation to the chuck surface. Some locating elements are mechanically fixed to the chuck for securing the workpiece from transverse movement on the chuck surface. Preferably, each of the supporting, locating and clamping members are fixed to separate steel bases for magnetic attraction to the chuck. Each base may also carry its own hydraulic actuator for height adjustment of a support element or for height adjustment and closure of a clamping element. These modular elements have locating slots or grooves or the like so that they can be selected from a storage magazine and located on a chuck by numerically controlled mechanisms.
22 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A modular fixture member for holding a workpiece to a magnetized flat chuck plate comprising:
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a base of ferromagnetic material for magnetic attachment to the chuck plate, a hydraulically actuated workpiece support member fixed to said base, a hydraulic pump for delivery of hydraulic fluid to and from said support member, said pump being fixed to said base, and a fluid channel in said base for transporting hydraulic fluid between said pump and said support member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A modular fixture member for holding a workpiece to a magnetizable chuck plate comprising:
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a base of ferromagnetic material for magnetic attachment to the chuck plate, a hydraulic workpiece clamp member fixed to said base, a hydraulic screw pump for delivery of hydraulic fluid to and from said clamp member, said pump being fixed to said base, and a fluid channel in said base for transporting hydraulic fluid between said pump and said clamp member. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A modular fixture member for holding a workpiece to a chuck plate comprising:
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a base of ferromagnetic material, said base being adapted for magnetic attachment to the chuck plate, a hydraulically actuated workpiece support member fixed to said base, a hydraulic screw pump for delivery of hydraulic fluid to and from said support member, said pump being fixed to said base, and a fluid channel in said base for transporting hydraulic fluid between said pump and said support member. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification