Workpiece securing apparatus for a machine tool

Apparatus for securing a workpiece to the table of a machine tool, comprising a body member, means mounted on said body member for releaseably gripping the workpiece, said body member having a bottom surface and defining a cylindrical bore extending upwardly from said surface, a stud member having a cylindrical head portion extending into said bore in closely fitting relation and providing for rotating said body member on said stud member while maintaining axial alignment of said body member and said stud member, said stud member further including a threaded portion projecting downwardly from said head portion and adapted to engage means on the table defining a threaded hole, means for positively retaining said head portion of said stud member within said bore of said body member for relative rotation, and means for engaging said head portion of said stud member and for rotating said stud member after said head portion is retained within said bore for tightening said threaded portion into the threaded hole.

Apparatus for securing a workpiece to a table of a machine tool, comprising a base plate including means defining a precision X-Y grid pattern of threaded holes and precision bores having parallel axes, a set of T-slot plates each including means defining a precision pattern of precision bores having parallel axes, each of said T-slot plates also having an edge surface defining an undercut recess, said precision bores within each said T-slot plate being located in precise axial alignment with corresponding said precision bores within said base plate when said T-slot plate is properly positioned on said base plate, a set of locating pins extending within the axially aligned said precision bores, means for releasably securing each said T-slot plate to said base plate, and said edge surfaces of a set of adjacent said T-slot plates cooperating to define a T-slot when said T-slot plates are secured to said base plate.

Apparatus for securing a workpiece to the table of a machine tool, comprising a box-like column having parallel opposite side walls, means for securing said column to the table with said column projecting perpendicular to the table, a first sub-plate having means defining an array of perpendicular rows of threaded holes and precision bores having parallel axes and forming an X-Y grid pattern, means including at least two precision bores in one of said column side walls and corresponding locating pins for precisely locating said first sub-plate with respect to said one side wall of said column, a box-like column extender, means including at least two pairs of aligned precision bores and corresponding locating pins for precisely locating said column extender with respect to said column, a second sub-plate having means defining an array of perpendicular rows of threaded holes and precision bores having parallel axes and forming an X-Y grid pattern, and means including at least two precision bores in said column extender and corresponding locating pins for precisely locating said second sub-plate with respect to said column extender to provide precise registration of all of said precision bores within said first and second sub-plates.

Apparatus for securing a workpiece to the table of a machine tool, comprising a base plate including means defining an array of perpendicular rows of threaded holes and precision bores having parallel axes and forming an X-Y grid pattern, a body member, a clamp member, means mounted on said body member and supporting said clamp member for movement relative to said body member, actuating means for moving said clamp member for releasably gripping the workpiece, said body member having a bottom surface and defining a bore having an axis perpendicular to said bottom surface, a stud member having a head portion and extending into said bore, said stud member providing for rotating said body member on said stud member, said stud member further including a threaded portion projecting downwardly from said head portion and adapted to engage one of said threaded holes within said base plate, means for retaining said head portion of said stud member within said bore of said body member, and means for engaging said head portion of said stud member to rotate said stud member within said bore for tightening said threaded portion into said one threaded hole within said base plate.