Method for locating and clamping a work member supporting fixture

Abstract

A method and apparatus for locating a work member supporting fixture on a table and for clamping the fixture in located position on the table, especially to locate and clamp the work member during machining; in which the table is fixedly mounted in place, for example, in a machine tool with an upwardly facing horizontal surface exposed. The work member fixture has a downwardly facing surface receivable on the upper surface of the table and is adapted for fixedly supporting a work member therein. The table has passages therein under fluid pressure and a plurality of outlets lead from the passages through the upper surface of the table and are preferably provided with normally closed valves adapted to be actuated into open position by movement of a fixture thereover. The passages and outlets provide means for establishing a fluid film under pressure between the downwardly facing surface of the fixture and the upwardly facing surface of the table so that the fixture floats on the film and can be moved about easily on the table. Cooperating elements of pin and socket locating devices on the fixture and table provide for the location of the fixture in predetermined positions on the table and clamps are provided to clamp the fixture in located positions on the table. The locating devices on the table bear a predetermined relation to the work axis of the machine tool, a spindle axis, for example, and can, therefore, be depended on to locate the fixture in predetermined accurate positions for machining. A work member located in the fixture can, thus, be positioned rapidly for the machining of various regions thereof.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.