The invention relates to a machining device, in particular for machining workpieces of wood, wood materials, plastic or the like, comprising a workpiece table with a workpiece holder for holding at least one workpiece, and a feeding device for supplying at least one workpiece to the workpiece table, wherein the workpiece can be positioned in three dimensions with respect to the workpiece table. The invention further relates to a corresponding method.

A chuck mechanism operates a piston in a cylinder tube by using action of compressed air and opens and closes, by using a rod coupled to the piston, a pair of fingers, thereby gripping work W. The locking mechanism locks the fingers at work grip positions. The locking mechanism includes a first locking member, a second locking member, and a drive device. The first locking member is displaced when the pair of fingers are opened or closed. The second locking member retains the first locking member so as to lock the fingers at the work grip positions. The drive device relatively displaces the first locking member and the second locking member to locking positions and non-locking positions.

By setting an outer circumferential surface of a second hydraulic chamber of a cylinder device to be a thin portion, hydraulic pressure increases by receiving air pressure from the second pneumatic chamber, and the thin portion expands to clamp a cylinder. Then, by the increase of the second hydraulic chamber, expansion of the thin portion in an axial direction is suppressed and the thin portion expands in a radial direction, and thus, as means for suppressing expansion in the axial direction, the thin portion is fixed from both end sides thereof with an expansion stop bolt. The expansion stop bolt fixes a lid and a lid disposed so as to sandwich pressed portions on both end sides of the thin portion or both ends of the thin portion. Further, in order to prevent the thin portion from being shrunk by tightening with the expansion stop bolt, a spacer is disposed between the pressed portions on both end sides of the thin portion.

By setting an outer circumferential surface of a second hydraulic chamber of a cylinder device to be a thin portion, hydraulic pressure increases by receiving air pressure from the second pneumatic chamber, and the thin portion expands to clamp a cylinder. Then, by the increase of the second hydraulic chamber, expansion of the thin portion in an axial direction is suppressed and the thin portion expands in a radial direction, and thus, as means for suppressing expansion in the axial direction, the thin portion is fixed from both end sides thereof with an expansion stop bolt. The expansion stop bolt fixes a lid and a lid disposed so as to sandwich pressed portions on both end sides of the thin portion or both ends of the thin portion. Further, in order to prevent the thin portion from being shrunk by tightening with the expansion stop bolt, a spacer is disposed between the pressed portions on both end sides of the thin portion.

The present invention relates to a clamping mechanism that is configured to securely hold a workpiece in a machine tool, such as, but not limited to a vertical machining center, or a horizontal machining center, etc. More specifically, the clamping mechanism is configured as a modular soft jaw. A multiplicity of clamping mechanisms can be used to cooperatively secure large workpieces. Furthermore, a multiplicity of clamping mechanisms can be incorporated into a job set-up so a multiplicity of workpieces can be processed concurrently. The present invention's clamping mechanism can be secured in orientations such as, but not limited to a machine tool table bed, a fixture plate, a tombstone, etc. The present invention's modular, soft jaw clamping mechanism can be used in conjunction with other work holding equipment, such as, but not limited to jigs, fixtures, tools, vises, clamps, etc.

There is provided a clamping mechanism, including: a housing which is movable to clamp or unclamp an object having clamping blocks; a clamping plate disposed in front of the housing; and a first elastic member applying a clamping force to the clamping plate by movement of the housing, wherein the clamping blocks have receiving grooves in which edges of the clamping plate are received.

There is provided a clamping mechanism, including: a housing which is movable to clamp or unclamp an object having clamping blocks; a clamping plate disposed in front of the housing; and a first elastic member applying a clamping force to the clamping plate by movement of the housing, wherein the clamping blocks have receiving grooves in which edges of the clamping plate are received.

A fluid pressure vise actuator includes a housing and an inner bore of the housing. A piston is disposed in the housing, and the piston is configured to actuate based on a pressure increase in ports of the housing. A gear is also disposed in the inner bore of the housing, and a portion of the gear is adjacent to the piston such that an actuation of the piston is configured to rotate the gear. The gear includes a socket configured to interface with a vise and operate the vise based on a rotation of the gear. The housing also includes adjustable clamping blocks configured to engage with the vise to provide support for the housing during operation. An adjustment of the clamping blocks enables the fluid pressure vise actuator to interface with multiple types of existing vises.

A fluid pressure vise actuator includes a housing and an inner bore of the housing. A piston is disposed in the housing, and the piston is configured to actuate based on a pressure increase in ports of the housing. A gear is also disposed in the inner bore of the housing, and a portion of the gear is adjacent to the piston such that an actuation of the piston is configured to rotate the gear. The gear includes a socket configured to interface with a vise and operate the vise based on a rotation of the gear. The housing also includes adjustable clamping blocks configured to engage with the vise to provide support for the housing during operation. An adjustment of the clamping blocks enables the fluid pressure vise actuator to interface with multiple types of existing vises.

A work piece processing tool includes a tool device and a work piece that can be held by a workpiece holder. A servo-elastic actuator system includes a servo actuator and a compliance elastic member that connects one of the tool device and the work piece holder to the servo actuator. The servo-elastic actuator system moves the one of the tool device and the work piece holder toward the other of the tool device and the work piece holder. A locking mechanism engages the one of the tool device and the work piece holder to the servo actuator to limit movement of the one of the tool device and the work piece holder relative to the servo actuator.