Adjustable part holding fixture, system and method

An adjustable part holding system comprising:

• a machining assembly comprising at least a work surface and a machine tool, the machine tool coupled to a control and power system configured for controlling and powering the machine tool;
• and
• a portable, adjustable part holding fixture installed in the machining assembly, the adjustable part holding fixture comprising:
• a base assembly comprising a container and a phase change material contained within the container;
• a control device coupled to the phase change material and configured to convert the phase change material between a non-rigid state and a rigid state;
• a plurality of separate part holding assemblies, each part holding assembly comprising a base anchoring portion coupled to a part attachment portion, each base anchoring portion inserted into and positioned in the phase change material in the container, and each part attachment portion configured to releasably attach to a surface of a part being held by the plurality of separate part holding assemblies of the adjustable part holding fixture, each of the plurality of separate part holding assemblies being independently repositionable based on a shape of the part;
• and
• a flexible membrane coupled between each base anchoring portion and each part attachment portion of the plurality of separate part holding assemblies, the flexible membrane having a plurality of openings, each opening being of a sufficient size to accommodate insertion of a post member of each of the plurality of separate part holding assemblies through each respective opening,
• wherein the phase change material in the non-rigid state allows for positioning of each base anchoring portion in the container and adjusting to the part being held, and further wherein the phase change material in the rigid state holds each base anchoring portion in a desired position in the container and holds the part in place to each part attachment portion during one or more manufacturing processes performed on the part.

An adjustable part holding method for holding a part during one or more manufacturing processes performed on the part, the adjustable part holding method comprising the steps of:

• assembling an adjustable part holding fixture comprising:
• a base assembly having a container and a phase change material contained within the container;
• a control device coupled to the phase change material;
• and
• a plurality of separate part holding assemblies, each part holding assembly comprising a base anchoring portion coupled to a part attachment portion;
• installing the adjustable part holding fixture in a machining assembly, the machining assembly comprising at least a work surface and a machine tool coupled to a control and power system;
• inserting into the phase change material in the container, the base anchoring portion of each of the plurality of separate part holding assemblies, when the phase change material is in a non-rigid state;
• releasably attaching the part attachment portion of each of the plurality of separate part holding assemblies to a surface of the part, each of the plurality of separate part holding assemblies being independently repositionable based on a shape of the part;
• positioning each base anchoring portion in the phase change material, and adjusting each base anchoring portion to the part being held, until a desired position of each base anchoring portion is obtained;
• using the control device to convert the phase change material from the non-rigid state to a rigid state, to hold the base anchoring portion in the desired position and to hold the part in place;
• and
• using the machining assembly to perform one or more manufacturing processes on the part being held by the adjustable part holding fixture.