A system for supporting workpieces during machining. The system comprises one or more adjustable workpiece support assemblies and a robotic unit. Each workpiece support assembly comprises a pedestal and a rotatable fixture element. The robotic assembly comprises means of mobilizing and immobilizing each support assembly, so that the fixture element may be secured in a particular orientation. The robotic unit moves along a frame, and manipulates and fixes the position of the fixture elements to match the contour of a workpiece. Vacuum forces may be applied through the workpiece support assemblies to secure the workpiece against the fixture elements.

A universal jig is provided for clamping wind turbine blades. The jig has a rectangle-like shape forming a space for clamping a blade at the blade root or the blade body. The jig comprises a set of vertically-moving parts; a set of horizontally-moving parts; a plurality of adjusted pads; and a plurality of positioning parts. The vertically-moving parts comprise two upper connecting posts and two lower connecting posts sheathed with each other separately to form two length sides of the jig. The horizontally-moving parts comprise two left connecting posts and two right connecting posts. The adjusted pads are locked on the left and the right connecting posts. The positioning parts are locked at the upper and the lower connecting posts of the length sides of the jig and are locked at the left and the right connecting posts of the width sides of the jig.

A system for damping machine-induced vibration in a workpiece includes a plurality of workpiece holders to hold the workpiece in a work cell. The system also includes a machine tool located in the work cell. The machine tool performs a machining operation on the workpiece while the workpiece is held by the plurality of workpiece holders. The system further includes a damping apparatus coupled to the workpiece. The damping apparatus controls machine-induced vibrations in the workpiece during the machining operation.

An apparatus for holding a workpiece includes a fixture base, a linear actuator coupled to the fixture base and having an outboard end that is linearly movable by the linear actuator, and a vacuum gripper located at the outboard end of the linear actuator. The linear actuator is configured to linearly move the vacuum gripper relative to the fixture base into contact with a surface of the workpiece. With the vacuum gripper in contact with the surface of the workpiece, the vacuum gripper is configured to grip the workpiece using a vacuum formed between the vacuum gripper and the surface of the workpiece. With the vacuum formed between the vacuum gripper and the surface of the workpiece, the linear actuator is configured to lock linear movement of the vacuum gripper.

The invention relates to a machine table for a machine tool. Such machine tools are used, for example, in the wood-processing industry. The machine table comprises clamping elements, each of which has a clamping device, wherein, starting from a receiving position, the clamping elements can be raised to a raised position and lowered to a lowered position relative to a reference element.

The machining station can include a table; at least three robots each having a multi-axis mover secured to the table, and a gripper opposite the table, the robots being interspaced from one another on the table; and a controller. The controller controls the robots to hold a workpiece in a coordinated manner. The computer numerical command (CNC) machine-tool system machines the workpiece while the workpiece is held by the robots. The workpiece can be moved into and out from the machining station with a trolley which slidingly engages a trolley path formed within the table.

The present disclosure discloses a carrier frame, which includes at least two plug boards and a plurality of hollow insert parts. Each plug board includes a plurality of hollow insert parts, either end of the support rod is configured to be inserted into any one of the hollow insert parts; the carrier frame has a first state, in the first state, the at least two plug boards are arranged in parallel and the two adjacent plug boards are connected through the support rods.

A method of allowing a work-piece to obtain its free state shape while bonded to an adhesive fixture includes allowing the fixing surfaces to change shape or position relative to a fixture base without degrading the holding strength of the adhesive joints. A floating adhesive fixture may use one or more floating adhesive fixture devices. Each device includes a fixture element with an integral fixing surface that can displace relative to the fixture, a clamping system that can release or prevent this motion, and a suspension that keeps the fixture element in a nominal position when the clamping system is disengaged. A method includes unclamping the fixture elements and allowing them to displace as the adhesive joints and work-piece reduce strain energy. The clamping of the fixture elements prepares the fixture for the ensuing manufacturing process.

A workpiece fixture assembly is provided herein. The workpiece fixture assembly includes a baseplate including an engagement surface. First and second static risers are configured to maintain a position of a workpiece. The first static riser includes a first gage bore thereon. A dynamic riser is configured to abut the workpiece and has a second gage bore thereon. A numerical control machine has a probe to measure an offset distance between the first and second gage bores. A linearly actuable workpiece support is disposed on the baseplate.

A system for supporting workpieces during machining. The system comprises one or more adjustable workpiece support assemblies and a robotic unit. Each workpiece support assembly comprises a pedestal and a rotatable fixture element. The robotic assembly comprises means of mobilizing and immobilizing each support assembly, so that the fixture element may be secured in a particular orientation. The robotic unit moves along a frame, and manipulates and fixes the position of the fixture elements to match the contour of a workpiece. Vacuum forces may be applied through the workpiece support assemblies to secure the workpiece against the fixture elements.