A clamping apparatus and method for maintaining a workpiece flatness during processing includes a base having a planar surface for receiving a first workpiece. Two sets of opposing clamping mechanisms are mounted to the base and include a clamp head at a distal end of a rod extending from a housing in removable overlapping relation to the first workpiece. Each set of the clamp heads are in opposing spaced relationship to each other defining a second workpiece area, and the clamp heads are configured to mate with a top surface of the first workpiece. A biasing member is coupled to each of the housings and apply a downward vertical force to the housings, rods, and the clamp heads for applying a downward vertical pressure to the first workpiece. The first workpiece is thereby discouraged from thermally expanding in a vertical direction and is thermally expandable horizontally along the planar surface.

A clamping apparatus and method for maintaining a workpiece flatness during processing includes a base having a planar surface for receiving a first workpiece. Two sets of opposing clamping mechanisms are mounted to the base and include a clamp head at a distal end of a rod extending from a housing in removable overlapping relation to the first workpiece. Each set of the clamp heads are in opposing spaced relationship to each other defining a second workpiece area, and the clamp heads are configured to mate with a top surface of the first workpiece. A biasing member is coupled to each of the housings and apply a downward vertical force to the housings, rods, and the clamp heads for applying a downward vertical pressure to the first workpiece. The first workpiece is thereby discouraged from thermally expanding in a vertical direction and is thermally expandable horizontally along the planar surface.

Disclosed generally is a face plate for a vise that is capable of gripping multiple work-pieces of different sizes at the same time. In one embodiment, the disclosed subject matter may be a vise face plate comprising: a base with an upper compensation structure and a lower compensation structure; and, wherein the upper and lower compensation structures define two sets of working surfaces. In use, the plate may be secured to a movable jaw so that the working surfaces may be employed to clamp a plurality of work pieces between the working surfaces and a fixed jaw.

A system is disclosed for processing a plurality of customized dental restorations in an automated process that comprises a milling center, a carrier for holding a plurality of customized dental restorations, and a transfer system for transferring the customized restorations between processing units. Processing units may comprise one or more of a separating unit, a scrap disposal unit, a heating unit and a cooling unit. A multi-compartment tray and a material block are disclosed for use in the system.

A workpiece machining jig includes: a base member of an H cross-sectional shape integrally having two vertical flanges and a web having an interior hollow portion and extending horizontally to connect between the vertical flanges; first and second pallets fixed to the opposite surfaces of the web for placing thereon four workpieces, two workpieces on each of the pallets, in a horizontal posture. Each of the pallets has a pallet-side communication hole communicating to the hollow portion, and each of the flanges has a flange-side communication hole communicating to the hollow portion. The pallet-side communication hole of each of the pallets and the flange-side communication hole of a corresponding one of the flanges are interconnected by a tube extending in the hollow portion. Thus, four workpieces are machined concurrently using the single workpiece machining jig.

A device for holding a turbine engine blade for purposes of machining, the device including a support including at least one housing in which at least one block is removably mounted, the block including two jaws presenting an opening for mounting an airfoil of a blade. The block further includes six presser points for pressing against the airfoil, and a movable presser finger for pressing against a pressure side surface or a suction side surface of the blade, the finger being moved by an actuation mechanism such that in a blade clamping position, the presser finger presses the blade against the presser points of the block, which itself is pressed against the support.

A workpiece turning-over device includes a mounting wall, a gear driving mechanism, and a rotation mechanism. The gear driving mechanism comprises a toothed bar and a driving member. The driving member is able to drive the toothed bar to move. The rotation mechanism comprises a sleeve and a gear. The sleeve is rotatably attached to the mounting wall. A supporting portion extends from the sleeve to secure the workpiece thereon. The gear is fixedly coiled around the sleeve, engaged to the toothed bar, and is able to rotate to rotate the sleeve fixed thereto, thereby allowing the workpiece to rotate.

Robot cell with a robot cell chamber for loading and unloading single-station machine tools and with a machine chamber, wherein at least one robot is arranged in the robot cell chamber and wherein at least two clamping points and at least one machining spindle of a single-station machine tool are arranged in the machine chamber, and so the clamping points for receiving workpieces in the machine chamber can be reached by the robot, wherein the robot cell chamber can be coupled to the machine chamber such that a machining chamber is formed in the state in which the robot cell chamber is coupled to the machine chamber, and a device for machining, wherein the device has a robot cell and a single-station machine tool.

A workpiece holding device includes a main body having a groove and a bearing plate configured to receive a workpiece; an elastic member mounted in the groove at an angle relative to the bearing plate, and having an engaging portion protruding beyond the groove; and a resisting member having an inclined surface received in the groove. The inclined surface can abut the elastic member. When the resisting member rises it forces the engaging portion of the elastic member to move toward the bearing plate, thus securing the workpiece when present. When the resisting member lowers the elasticity of the engaging portion causes it to move away from the bearing plate, thus releasing the workpiece when present.

A system is disclosed for processing a plurality of customized dental restorations from individual millable material blocks in an automated process. The system comprises processing units that may comprise one or more of a milling center comprising one or more milling units, a plurality of material blocks a separating unit, a scrap disposal unit, a heating unit and a cooling unit. A carrier for holding a plurality of individual workpieces in spaced arrangement is also disclosed for use in the system.