A flexible vacuum assembly fixture including a base; at least one arm coupled to the base; a suction cup fitting coupled to the at least one arm distal from the base; a vacuum generator fluidly coupled to the suction cup fitting via a vacuum tube; and a grounding feature configured to electrically ground the suction cup fitting, the at least one arm, and the base.

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 pressurizing suction-attachment table is provided with a porous body having a suction-attachment surface on which an object can be placed, an elastic member directly provided to the porous body, and a frame body supporting the porous body with the elastic member therebetween. An aspiration space is formed between the porous body and the frame body. The pressurizing suction-attachment table is provided with an aspirator capable of aspirating the aspiration space to cause the object to be suction-attached to the suction-attachment surface. The porous body includes an opposite surface positioned on a side opposite to the suction-attachment surface. The frame body includes a receiving surface for receiving the opposite surface when the elastic member is elastically deformed due to pressurization of the object placed on the suction-attachment surface onto the suction-attachment surface. The pressurizing suction-attachment table is configured such that, when the opposite surface is received by the receiving surface, the porous body applies a uniform reactive force to the object being pressurized.

A vacuum-based weld fixture includes a first work piece support for supporting a first work piece and a second work piece support for supporting a second work piece. The first work piece support may be slidable with respect to the second work piece support, and configured to supply a vacuum to the first work piece via at least one opening formed in a work piece support surface. The weld fixture includes a gage bar for aligning the first and second work pieces. Reduced pressure created by a vacuum source may be communicated to the opening in the work piece support surface, thereby holding the first work piece in place while the first work piece is aligned against the gage bar prior to welding.

Flanging press for folding over a flange of a component, preferably of a vehicle part, the press being arranged in a stationary manner and including at least the following: (a) a basic structure with a flanging bed, against which the component can be pressed in a pressing direction in order for the flange to be folded over, (b) a flanging die unit with a flanging die for folding over the flange, (c) and a pressing drive for generating a pressing force which acts on the component in order for the flange to be folded over, (d) wherein the flanging die and the flanging bed can be moved relative to one another in the pressing direction by the pressing drive in order for the pressing force to be exerted, characterized in that (e) the pressing drive includes a bellows which can be subjected to the action of pressurized fluid, preferably compressed gas, and, under the action of pressure, acts on the flanging die unit or the flanging bed in the pressing direction and thus generates at least some of the pressing force, and the bellows has a bellows surface which extends transversely to the pressing direction and can be subjected to the action of the pressurized fluid.

The present disclosure relates to a fixing device arranged to be fastened to a machining head such as a drill head. A machine tool for machining workpieces such as metal sheets at a machining point is also disclosed. The workpieces may be machined from a machining side. A fastening device is included and adapted for fastening the fixing device to the machining head. A fixing head is included and adapted for releasably, locally fixing the workpiece on its machining side and adjacent to the machining point. A controller is included and configured to control the fixing and releasing of the fixing head on a workpiece.

A method for evacuating a volume below a substrate in a substrate processing system includes arranging the substrate on a lift mechanism of a substrate support to define the volume below the substrate between the substrate and an upper surface of the substrate support. An evacuation step is initiated to evacuate the volume below the substrate. The evacuation step includes pumping down the volume below the substrate at least one of through and around the lift mechanism. The lift mechanism is lowered during the evacuation step to position the substrate on the upper surface of the substrate support and the evacuation step is terminated.

A device for clamping a workpiece (P) to a workbench (T) includes a body (1) containing a vacuum-generating element. The body (1) has a lower cavity (2) open at the bottom and positioned in the vicinity of a face for securing to the workbench (T). The lower cavity (2) forms a vacuum reserve, this vacuum reserve being connected by a substantially straight duct (6) to an upper face for securing a workpiece (P).

A system for supporting a workpiece is disclosed, wherein several heads with a suction cup define an engaging and supporting surface that is at least partially shaped like the workpiece. Each each head with suction cup is coupled by a bail joint with a first movable element of a vertical linear actuator and is couplable by a removable fitting with a fork carried by a second movable element that rotates around a rotation axis that is coaxial with the axis of the linear actuator. The second movable element carries an abutment, spaced from the center of the ball joint against which the suction cup head abuts and moved by the linear actuator to perform the adjustment of the orientation thereof around the ball joint.

According to various embodiments, a workpiece planarization arrangement may include: a chuck including at least one portion configured to support one or more workpieces; and a planarization tool configured to planarize the at least one portion of the chuck and to planarize one or more workpieces on the at least one portion of the chuck; wherein the at least one portion of the chuck includes at least one of particles, pores and/or a polymer.