A table group for a machine tool is provided. The table group has a support assembly, a table, a ring gear provided with a lower face and an upper face, integral with the table, a plurality of main hydrostatic skids, a detection device for detecting a lifting action generated by the main hydrostatic skids, a plurality of dogs and an electronic management device operatively connected to the main hydrostatic skids, the dogs and the detection device, configured to control the dogs to generate a contrasting action. The lifting action is equal to a predetermined constant nominal load greater than the weight of a semi-finished product and either smaller than or equal to a maximum load which can be borne by the main hydrostatic skids.

Systems and methods are provided for gripping of a workpiece with a layer jamming structure having rigid datum structures. A system includes a layer jamming structure configurable in an inactivated conformable state, with a membrane defining an internal cavity containing a number of overlapping material layers. The rigid structures engage the layer jamming structure. A pressure system includes a pump coupled with the internal cavity to change a pressure therein to transform the layer jamming structure from the inactivated conformable state to an activated rigid state disposed around the workpiece. The rigid structures help conform the layer jamming structure to the workpiece during transformation to the activated rigid state and to present datum fixturing surfaces in the activated rigid state.

Systems and methods are provided for gripping of a workpiece with a layer jamming structure having rigid datum structures. A system includes a layer jamming structure configurable in an inactivated conformable state, with a membrane defining an internal cavity containing a number of overlapping material layers. The rigid structures engage the layer jamming structure. A pressure system includes a pump coupled with the internal cavity to change a pressure therein to transform the layer jamming structure from the inactivated conformable state to an activated rigid state disposed around the workpiece. The rigid structures help conform the layer jamming structure to the workpiece during transformation to the activated rigid state and to present datum fixturing surfaces in the activated rigid state.

A hydrostatic pressure guide mechanism includes: a guide member having a smooth guide surface; a movement member having a slide surface facing the guide surface and an annular placement groove formed on the slide surface; an annular seal member (hermetically closing member) that is disposed in the placement groove and capable of hermetically contacting with the guide surface; an oil supply structure configured to supply an oil into a static pressure pocket on the slide surface surrounded by the seal member; and an oil recovery structure configured to recover the oil from the static pressure pocket, in which the oil recovery structure has a recovery hole that is formed in the static pressure pocket and is opened on the slide surface.

A hydrostatic pressure guide mechanism includes: a guide member having a smooth guide surface; a movement member having a slide surface facing the guide surface and an annular placement groove formed on the slide surface; an annular seal member (hermetically closing member) that is disposed in the placement groove and capable of hermetically contacting with the guide surface; an oil supply structure configured to supply an oil into a static pressure pocket on the slide surface surrounded by the seal member; and an oil recovery structure configured to recover the oil from the static pressure pocket, in which the oil recovery structure has a recovery hole that is formed in the static pressure pocket and is opened on the slide surface.

A heavy object supporting device includes: a mounting table which is arranged to face a base, and on which a supported object is mounted; an annular sealing member which is arranged between the mounting table and the base and can be elastically compressed in the direction in which the mounting table and the base face each other; and a separation preventing structure which prevents separation between the mounting table and the base. A space, which is defined by the mounting table, the base, and the sealing member, is formed as a fluid-filled space that is sealed in a state filled with fluid. The separation preventing structure is configured to allow the mounting table to be moved relative to the base in the facing direction and the direction orthogonal to the facing direction while maintaining the sealed state of the fluid-filled space.

The present invention relates to a workholding device and method, and specifically provides a workholding device for positioning a workpiece on a machining equipment, which comprises: a sacrificial tray for supporting the workpiece; a workholding layer formed of a curable material applied on the sacrificial tray, which secures the workpiece at a predetermined position on the sacrificial tray upon completion of the curing, wherein the sacrificial tray and the workholding layer are allowed to be damaged by a cutting head of the machining equipment during machining of the workpiece; a curable material collector arranged below the sacrificial tray to collect the curable material that detaches from the sacrificial tray during the application of the curable material, the curing of the curable material, and/or the machining of the workpiece; a curing processing unit comprising a controller and a curing rate regulator, wherein the controller controls the curing rate regulator to regulate curing rate of the curable material by changing at least one factor that affects curing; and a platform assembly for supporting the sacrificial tray, the curable material collector and the curing processing unit, which is configured to be removably installed on the machining equipment.

The present invention relates to a workholding device and method, and specifically provides a workholding device for positioning a workpiece on a machining equipment, which comprises: a sacrificial tray for supporting the workpiece; a workholding layer formed of a curable material applied on the sacrificial tray, which secures the workpiece at a predetermined position on the sacrificial tray upon completion of the curing, wherein the sacrificial tray and the workholding layer are allowed to be damaged by a cutting head of the machining equipment during machining of the workpiece; a curable material collector arranged below the sacrificial tray to collect the curable material that detaches from the sacrificial tray during the application of the curable material, the curing of the curable material, and/or the machining of the workpiece; a curing processing unit comprising a controller and a curing rate regulator, wherein the controller controls the curing rate regulator to regulate curing rate of the curable material by changing at least one factor that affects curing; and a platform assembly for supporting the sacrificial tray, the curable material collector and the curing processing unit, which is configured to be removably installed on the machining equipment.

A rotary table device that includes an air seal mechanism that prevents entry of foreign material into a frame by supplying compressed air to an air channel having a gap which is formed in a frame and which is defined by an outer peripheral surface of a rotating shaft and an inner peripheral surface of an accommodation hole in the frame at a side closer to a table than a bearing is, and by ejecting the compressed air from an inside of the frame. The air channel includes a storing portion that is disposed upstream from an ejection portion, the ejection portion being a most downstream side portion of the air channel, and a channel width of the storing portion is larger than a channel width of a portion of the air channel that is disposed downstream from the storing portion.

Systems and methods are provided for gripping of a workpiece with a layer jamming structure having rigid datum structures. A system includes a layer jamming structure configurable in an inactivated conformable state, with a membrane defining an internal cavity containing a number of overlapping material layers. The rigid structures engage the layer jamming structure. A pressure system includes a pump coupled with the internal cavity to change a pressure therein to transform the layer jamming structure from the inactivated conformable state to an activated rigid state disposed around the workpiece. The rigid structures help conform the layer jamming structure to the workpiece during transformation to the activated rigid state and to present datum fixturing surfaces in the activated rigid state.