Methods and apparatuses for providing a clamp-up are provided. The methods and apparatuses include reaching through a first hole in a first part to grip a wall that defines a second hole in a second part to thereby pull the second part against the first part.

Methods and apparatuses for providing a clamp-up are provided. An apparatus for forming a clamp-up comprises an end effector. The end effector is positioned at a first side of a panel joint and applies a first clamp-up force to a first panel of a panel joint and an equal and opposite second clamp-up force to a second panel of the panel joint to provide the clamp-up.

A fixing structure includes a base, a supporting assembly coupled to the base, a top cover rotationally coupled to the supporting assembly, and a limiting assembly arranged on the supporting assembly. The limiting assembly limits a rotation angle of the top cover relative to the base.

A method is disclosed for holding a workpiece (P) to be machined comprising the steps of: manufacturing a locking jig (1) for locking the workpiece (P) on a support base (2) by additive production techniques, the locking jig (1) comprising wall arrangement (3) defining a loop (4a); eliminating the irregularities present on at least one end of the wall arrangement (3) so as to define a support surface for the workpiece (P) to be machined; making a seat (6) in said at least one end of said wall arrangement (3) intended for housing a seal (7); making at least one opening (8) on the support base (2) connected to at least one inner space of said loop (4a) on one side, and with a suction device on the other side; and applying a depression that, through the opening (8) and the aforesaid inner space, enables the workpiece (P) to stick to and remain stationary with respect to said support surface during machining of the workpiece (P).

The present invention is provided with: a first processing position (A1) and a second processing position (A2) at which rough processing is performed on a workpiece (W); a third processing position (B1) at which final finishing processing is performed on the workpiece (W) that was processed at the second processing position (A2); flexible vices (7) provided to the first processing position (A1) and the second processing position (A2), the flexible vices (7) securing the workpiece (W) by clamping the same; and a quick clamping device (20) provided to the third processing position (B1), the quick clamping device (20) securing the workpiece (W) by means of a pin. The present invention is also provided with a control unit that controls a rough processing tool for performing rough processing and a final finishing processing tool for performing final finishing processing.

The present invention relates to a clamping device (10) and a method for clamping a workpiece (2), preferably to a machining device, in particular for clamping a workpiece (2) having one or more curved surfaces or free-form surfaces, comprising: a first receiving section (12) for receiving a workpiece (2), which preferably has at least in sections thereof a first negative form relative to the workpiece (2) to be received, a second receiving section (13) for receiving the workpiece (2), which preferably has at least in sections thereof a second negative form relative to the workpiece (2) to be received, wherein one of the receiving sections (12, 13) can be moved out of a first position relative to the other receiving section (12, 13) into a second position, and one or more clamping mechanisms (20a, 20b) is/are provided on the first receiving section (12) and/or on the second receiving section (13).

A cutting apparatus includes a rotatable holding table having a rectangular holding surface, a cutting unit having a cutting blade mounted to a rotatable spindle, and a sensor unit detecting a tip of the cutting blade entering between a light projection section and a light reception section. The sensor unit has an upper end located to be lower than a lower end of the holding table in a Z direction and is located below the axis of the spindle or an extension region of the axis, and when short sides of the rectangular holding surface are set parallel to a Y direction, an upper side of the sensor unit is opened to allow the cutting blade to enter between the light projection section and the light reception section.

Aspects of a system for holding workpieces in place during processing are described. In an example, the system includes a distribution manifold coupled to a vacuum source, and multiple linear valves coupled to the distribution manifold, where each linear valve has a manifold with multiple openings and is adjustable to select one or more of the multiple openings to have a path to the vacuum source through the distribution manifold for providing a vacuum to hold a workpiece in place. In another example, the system includes a vacuum holder having a first array of openings, a system of linear valves positioned below the vacuum holder and having a second array of openings that aligns with the first array of openings, and a vacuum source that provides vacuum for holding a workpiece on the vacuum holder. A method for holding workpieces in place during processing using these systems is also described.

A method for fabricating vacuum tooling is disclosed using porous granular media. A sheet of steel webbing is affixed to a frame. A plurality of layers of fiberglass is affixed to the webbing. A vacuum port is installed through the webbing and plurality of layers of fiberglass. A granular media is mixed with epoxy to form a granular mixture. The granular mixture is layered over the plurality of layers of fiberglass to form a flat surface and machined for uniformity before sealing.

A device (1) for the movement of sheet-like pieces (P) in a machine tool (M), including a frame (10) moving towards or away from the machining surface (P1) of the machine, a gripping device (20) including a sheet-like element (21) with a gripping surface (21a) having openings (24) and mounted on the frame (10) rotatingly around at least one axis (x) substantially orthogonal to the direction of movement (D) of the frame (10) and element for the creation of a vacuum (25) communicating with the openings (24) and adapted to generate a vacuum pressure at the openings (24), which, when the gripping surface (21a) is substantially next to the machining surface (P1), makes it possible to detach the pieces (P) from the machining surface and keep them on the gripping surface.