Universal contoured parts holding fixture

An apparatus for holding contoured work-pieces in a pre-determined contour while work is being performed on said work-pieces, said apparatus comprising:

• (i) a base;
• (ii) a spring metal frame attached to said base at one or more points for forming a contoured support plane for said work-pieces, said frame being composed of a plurality of flexible bands, said flexible bands comprising a plurality of flexible supporting bands each interconnected with a plurality of flexible connecting bands;
• (iii) a plurality of linear actuator members positioned at said points on said base and attached to one or more of said flexible connecting bands for deforming said spring metal frame, said actuator members including means for pulling and pushing said flexible bands so as to form concave and convex contours;
• (iv) computer means for activating said linear actuator members for contouring said support plane of said spring metal frame to concave and convex contours;
• and
• (v) constraining means for holding said contoured work-pieces in said support plane, said constraining means comprising a plurality of spaced vacuum cups mounted on any of said flexible bands.