Machine tool with working surface defined by orientable suction cups

A machine tool comprising:

• at least one work head adapted to support at least one tool;
• at least one workpiece holder comprising at least a first beam and a second beam;
• wherein the first beam and the second beam are parallel to one another and wherein a distance between the first beam and the second beam is adjustable by a first actuator orthogonally to a longitudinal extension of the first beam and the second beam;
• on each said first beam and second beam at least a first carriage and a second carriage movable along the longitudinal extension of the respective first beam and second beam;
• for each said first carriage and second carriage, a respective second actuator adapted to control the movement of each respective carriage along the respective first beam and second beam;
• on each carriage, a suction cup for blocking the work pieces to be machined;
• wherein:
• each suction cup has an elongate shape with a long side and a short side;
• the suction cups of each said first carriage and second carriage of the first beam and second beam are co-planar and cumulatively define a planar blocking surface adapted to block a planar workpiece;
• at least along said first beam each suction cup is supported by a blocking member rotatably coupled to a respective rotor;
• wherein the rotor is rotatably mounted on the respective carriage around a cup rotation axis, each cup rotation axis being orthogonal to said planar blocking surface;
• and
• a rotation actuator is arranged on each carriage of said first beam, within a footprint of each carriage and between the respective blocking member and each carriage, the rotation actuator adapted to rotate the respective blocking member and the suction cup around the respective cup rotation axis, the rotation actuator being housed in the respective carriage, between a first side panel and a second side panel of the carriage and above an upper surface of the respective beam.