Holder for annular workpieces

In a workpiece holder for clamping annular workpieces in a centered manner to permit working of one of the circumferential faces of the workpieces, which holder includes a basic element having a generally cylindrical support surface, and means for axially clamping the workpieces together, the improvement comprising:

• a plurality of segments arranged in groups, with the segments of each group distributed around the circumference of said cylindrical support surface in the form of a ring for radially clamping a respective workpiece and the groups of segments being disposed adjacent one another along the axis of said support surface, with the axial dimension of each group of segments being no greater than that of the respective workpiece which it is to clamp;
• and elastic support member connecting said segments to said basic element for permitting workpieces having respectively different radial wall thicknesses to be held by said segments in a uniformly centered manner;
• and two supporting elements mounted at said basic element and disposed at respective opposite sides of said plurality of segments for supporting said segments in the direction of the axis of said support surface, each said supporting element presenting an axial end face facing said segments, and one said supporting element having a circumferential groove formed in said end face of that said supporting element in the radial area of said elastic support member.