Machining center having an inclinable vacuum-holding worktable

A machining center for the machining of workpieces of varying size and of various materials, said machining center comprising a base assembly and further comprising:

• a worktable supported by said base assembly, said worktable having a worksurface upon which a workpiece is supported during machining, said worktable comprising a vacuum table flexibly coupled to a vacuum generating means for immovably holding said workpiece during the machining thereof;
• a gantry assembly movably mounted on said worktable, said gantry assembly being adapted for movement in a first axis relative to said worktable, said gantry assembly comprising a workhead assembly movably mounted thereon, said workhead assembly being adapted for movement in a second axis perpendicular to and coplanar with said first axis, said workhead assembly comprising a machining tool movably mounted thereon, said tool being adapted for movement in a third axis perpendicular to said first and said second axis;
• and
• means for controllably inclining said worktable of said gantry assembly mounted thereon such that said workpiece is immovably held in an inclined position during the machining thereof whereby dust and chips resulting from said machining are removed from said workpiece due to the force of gravity.

A method of facilitating the loading of a workpiece onto a worktable of a machining center and positioning the workpiece relative to a predetermined coordinate system relative to the worktable, the machining center having a tool coupled to a positioning means for positioning the tool within the coordinate system whereby the workpiece is machined, the machining center further having a vacuum holding means for immovably holding the workpiece during the machining thereof, comprising the steps of:

• inclining the worktable to an angle which facilitates the loading of a workpiece thereon;
• loading the workpiece upon the inclined worktable;
• positioning the workpiece upon the worktable such that the workpiece is disposed at a given position relative to the predetermined coordinate system;
• engaging the holding means whereby the workpiece is immovably held at the given position and adjusting the angle of inclination of said worktable to permit the force of gravity to remove dust and chips that form during the machining of the workpiece.