Methods of manufacturing a workpiece fixture for supporting a workpiece in a precision manufacturing process; method of generating a support blade machining pattern; and target material fixture

A method of precision processing a sheet material, the method comprising:

• generating a support blade machining pattern, the generating a support blade machining pattern comprising:
• for use in precision processing a sheet material to form support blades of a target workpiece fixture;
• the method comprising:
• providing a target pattern;
• providing a model of support loci of a target workpiece support;
• determining coincidence between the target pattern and a model of the support loci of the target workpiece support;
• and
• determining a location at least one interstice based on the coincidence;
• and
• generating the support blade machining pattern, comprising an outline of each support blade for the target workpiece fixture, wherein at least one said outline comprises at least one interstice, wherein each interstice is a gap or break in a continuous support locus, wherein a majority of a length of each support locus is defined by an edge of the support blade, and a minority of the length by each interstice;
• and
• precision processing the sheet material by following the support blade machining pattern and machining at least a part of the outline of each support blade through the sheet material.

A target material fixture adapted for supporting a workpiece during a precision manufacturing process, the target material fixture comprising two or more support blades coupled together;

• each support blade having a support locus and the support locus of at least one said support blade having at least one interstice;
• wherein each interstice is a gap or break in a continuous support locus, wherein a majority of a length of each support locus is defined by an edge of the support blade, and a minority of the length by each interstice;
• wherein the support loci together define a workpiece support for supporting the workpiece in use;
• and wherein the at least one interstice is positioned to provide a clearance between the workpiece support and the workpiece in predetermined locations based on the precision manufacturing process.