The invention relates to a clamping element, in particular a vacuum cup, which is used, for example, for holding a plate-shaped workpiece. The clamping element comprises a unit which is configured to detect individualised control signals transmitted via the power supply and to control the drive unit.

An autonomous processing station, in particular for machining a plate-shaped workpiece, for example, including a roller conveyor and a suction table disposed beneath the roller conveyor for clamping the workpiece. The roller conveyor includes movable rollers, in a longitudinal center region of the roller conveyor, so as to be movable to the side beneath stationary rollers at ends of the roller conveyor, so that the workpiece can be lowered through the resulting opening onto the suction table.

The invention described herein provides a method and material for creating tools surfaces from a granulated material comprised of a particulate and binding material in compositions and ratios described below. The granulated material may be formed using a number of methods and provides for the efficient repair of worn or damaged areas. Additionally, the granulated material may be used by placing it on the surface of a tooling encasement, or may be used by itself without any further structural support. The granulated material may also be used for both forming and trimming/machining of the part to desired tolerances.

An additive lathe integrates the advantages of additive manufacturing (also called 3d printing) with the cylindrical motion of a lathe to reduce material waste, print times, and increase creative potential. A post-processing system allows for an improved surface finishing on parts. The additive lathe no longer prints in cartesian (X, Y, Z) coordinates as other 3D printers and instead prints using cylindrical (R, Theta, Z) coordinates. The traditional bed or build plate is replaced with a horizontal cylindrical starter bar, on which 3D printed material is deposited along and around the bar. Essentially, the additive lathe works like a conventional lathe, but in reverse. Instead of taking a cylinder and slowly removing material as the part spins, the additive lathe adds material along and around the bar iteratively building up the part. The finishing mechanism allows for the creation of a smooth outer finish on printed parts while still in the printer.

Disclosed herein is a system for indexing a workpiece. The system comprises a vacuum source and a fixture plate, fluidly coupled with the vacuum source. The system also comprises an indexing stop, coupled to the fixture plate and fluidly coupled with the vacuum source. The indexing stop is actuatable between an extended position and a retracted position relative to the fixture plate. The vacuum source is selectively operable to concurrently apply a suction force to a workpiece supported on the fixture plate to urge the workpiece against the fixture plate and to the indexing stop to actuate the indexing stop from the extended position to the retracted position.

A workpiece processing method includes: a dresser preparing step of preparing a dresser of a predetermined thickness; a fixing step of fixing the workpiece and the dresser on a support member adjacently to each other in a first direction; a holding step of holding the support member by a holding table, after the fixing step is performed; and a cutting step of positioning a tool edge of the cutting blade at a predetermined height and cutting the workpiece and the dresser in the first direction by a cutting blade, after the holding step is performed.

A suction cup unit for gripping workpieces comprises a suction cup member carried by a support body within which a device is arranged for autonomously generating a vacuum to be applied to the suction cup member. The vacuum generator device includes an ejector-effect device, configured to generate a vacuum by supplying a flow of pressurized air through a nozzle, a reservoir of pressurized air connected to the nozzle, at least one electrically-operated valve for controlling the connection between the pressurized air reservoir and the nozzle, and a connecting line between the nozzle and the suction cup member, for transmitting a vacuum to the suction cup member when pressurized air is made to flow through the nozzle.

The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for cutting a film-like workpiece, in particular an electrode sheet, by means of a laser beam with a clamping assembly for a sheet-shaped starting material. According to the invention it is provided that the clamping assembly comprises a first clamping plate device and a second clamping plate device, between which the sheet-shaped starting material can be clamped, wherein at least one clamping plate device comprises an outer clamping unit, which is adapted to an outer contour of the workpiece, and an inner cover element, which, during cutting, is arranged inside the outer clamping unit and covers an inner surface of the workpiece, wherein a passage gap for the laser beam is formed between the outer clamping unit and the inner cover element, and that a laser beam device is provided and configured to generate a laser beam and to guide it along the formed passage gap.

An autonomous processing station, in particular for machining a plate-shaped workpiece, for example, including a roller conveyor and a suction table disposed beneath the roller conveyor for clamping the workpiece. The roller conveyor includes movable rollers, in a longitudinal center region of the roller conveyor, so as to be movable to the side beneath stationary rollers at ends of the roller conveyor, so that the workpiece can be lowered through the resulting opening onto the suction table.

A method and apparatus. The apparatus comprises a first portion of a tool and a second portion of the tool. The first portion of the tool has a first surface. The first surface has a shape that is complementary to a first portion of a part. The second portion has at least one of a second surface configured to be recessed from a second portion of the part or a hollow portion.