A system for supporting workpieces during machining. The system comprises one or more adjustable workpiece support assemblies and a robotic unit. Each workpiece support assembly comprises a pedestal and a rotatable fixture element. The robotic assembly comprises means of mobilizing and immobilizing each support assembly, so that the fixture element may be secured in a particular orientation. The robotic unit moves along a frame, and manipulates and fixes the position of the fixture elements to match the contour of a workpiece. Vacuum forces may be applied through the workpiece support assemblies to secure the workpiece against the fixture elements.

A rebar cage assembly system, a modular jig system and method for forming a rebar cage are disclosed. The rebar cage assembly system includes a modular jig for forming a rebar cage. The modular jig includes a fixture base, and a plurality of jig subcomponents. The jig subcomponents each having a jig attachment feature and a rebar retention feature. The rebar retention feature is configured to detachably receive rebar segments. The plurality of jig subcomponents are customizably arrangeable on the fixture base to form a modular jig to cooperatively position rebar segments in the rebar retention features. The rebar cage assembly system further includes a robotic system having a first robot and second robot and a plurality of rebar segments. The first robot is arranged and disposed to independently retrieve and position jig subcomponents and rebar segments. The second robot is arranged and disposed to join rebar segments to form a rebar cage.

The purpose of the present invention is to facilitate bonding between a jig and a plate-shaped workpiece and to suitably support the workpiece. A support device is provided with: a jig that has a bent support surface for supporting a plate-shaped workpiece; a first abutment that abuts against one end of the workpiece mounted on the support surface; and a second abutment that is disposed so as to face the first abutment across the support surface and that abuts against the other end of the workpiece mounted on the support surface. The first and second abutments move toward each other and apply a load, in the tangential direction load of the support surface, with respect to the workpiece mounted on the support surface.

A system for supporting workpieces during machining. The system comprises one or more adjustable workpiece support assemblies and a robotic unit. Each workpiece support assembly comprises a pedestal and a rotatable fixture element. The robotic assembly comprises means of mobilizing and immobilizing each support assembly, so that the fixture element may be secured in a particular orientation. The robotic unit moves along a frame, and manipulates and fixes the position of the fixture elements to match the contour of a workpiece. Vacuum forces may be applied through the workpiece support assemblies to secure the workpiece against the fixture elements.

An apparatus for supporting at least one component includes a supporting device having a first and at least one second support element, which are mounted movably relative to each other, and a shape-defining device with a surface contour which fits, at least in some regions, a contour of a supporting section of the component. The supporting device can be placed against the shape-defining device, and, by contact of the at least two support elements with the surface contour of the shape-defining device, the first support element can be moved into a defined position relative to the at least second support element, in which position the at least two support elements reproduce the contour of the supporting section, at least in some regions.

The low profile of the flexible tooling system disclosed allows for flexible tooling to be added to nearly all CNC machines with an accommodating z-axis height and allows easier relocation of the system from one CNC machine to another. The system includes one or more pods, each of the pods of the system replacing the function of four independent actuators of earlier systems but operating with a shared mechanical frame. Arranging the mechanism into groups of four allows for greater density of part support spacing, minimizes cable requirements, and allows for air, vacuum, and vacuum sensor requirements be localized on each pod. The pods allow for part supports to be spaced as close as 6″ in the x and y axis. An increased variable position assembly density allows for greater flexibility to hold complicated parts.

The machining station can include a table; at least three robots each having a multi-axis mover secured to the table, and a gripper opposite the table, the robots being interspaced from one another on the table; and a controller. The controller controls the robots to hold a workpiece in a coordinated manner. The computer numerical command (CNC) machine-tool system machines the workpiece while the workpiece is held by the robots. The workpiece can be moved into and out from the machining station with a trolley which slidingly engages a trolley path formed within the table.

A workpiece holding fixture is provided herein. The workpiece holding fixture includes a baseplate including an engagement surface. A first static riser including a position control member is configured to removably couple a workpiece to the first static riser. A second static riser includes a rotation control member and is configured to removably couple the workpiece to the second static riser. A dynamic riser is configured to abut the workpiece, the dynamic riser being movable by a spindle.

A workpiece fixture assembly is provided herein. The workpiece fixture assembly includes a baseplate including an engagement surface. First and second static risers are configured to maintain a position of a workpiece. The first static riser includes a first gage bore thereon. A dynamic riser is configured to abut the workpiece and has a second gage bore thereon. A numerical control machine has a probe to measure an offset distance between the first and second gage bores. A linearly actuable workpiece support is disposed on the baseplate.

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.