A modular fixture plate system comprising: at least one interlocking fixture plate comprising at least one of a male end and a female end, wherein the male end comprises at least one male projection and the female end comprises at least one female recess; and a docking plate comprising at least one of at least one male projection and at least one female recess; wherein at least one male projection or female recess of the at least one interlocking fixture plate is interlocked with a mating one of the at least one male projection or the at least one female recess of the docking plate.

A machine base for use in a machining system is provided. The machine base includes at least one work piece holder device receiving section having a work piece holder device interface, which includes an aligning device adapted for receiving the work piece holder device aligned on a z-axis. The machine base further includes at least one first machining unit receiving section provided with a first machining unit interface adapted for receiving a first machining unit including a first tool holder interface, and at least one second machining unit receiving section provided with a second machining unit interface adapted for receiving a second machining unit including a second tool holder interface. The first and second machining unit interfaces are arranged on opposing first and second sides of the work piece holder device interface and are movable at least along the x-axis or y-axis, respectively.

A modular tabletop apparatus, typically used for workpiece storage and handling during robotic manipulation and feeding to a machine, is disclosed. Modules of the apparatus comprise detection interfaces disposed at locations corresponding to module edge locations and arranged in a periodic grid. Alignment of facing detection interfaces along common edges of pairs of adjacent modules permits module controllers to detect neighboring modules, and a main controller to compute the overall size and shape of the tabletop formed by the modules. Connecting arrangements are also disclosed. The connecting arrangements may be placed at the same grid locations as the detection interfaces, advantageously permitting alignment of detection interfaces for any interconnection configuration of modules. Modules may comprise plates with a grid of positioning indentations. The period of the positioning grid can be an integer multiple or integer fraction of that of the interface/connection grid.