Fabrication chuck

A vacuum fabrication chuck for applying a thin membrane to an irregularly-shaped surface of a workpiece without causing deformation of protrusions from the surface of the workpiece, comprising:

• a foundation adapted to hold said workpiece in a selected workpiece fabrication position;
• an upper chuck assembly adapted to be detachably mounted to said foundation such that an assembly chamber is formed therebetween, said upper chuck assembly further comprising a frame and a moveable applicator disposed therein said applicator having a substantially flat mating surface disposed towards said assembly chamber and adapted to retain said thin membrane on said mating surface, said applicator further being adapted to selectively release said thin membrane from said mating surface, said applicator being displaceable within said assembly chamber to be disposed in close proximity to said workpiece and laterally aligned with registration guides to dispose said thin membrane on said workpiece whereby said membrane can be selectively disposed in a desired position over said irregularly-shaped surface of said workpiece;
• said fabrication chuck further comprising vacuum piping coupled to said applicator mating surface so as to selectively draw suction through a porous material disposed on said mating surface said fabrication chuck also comprising vacuum piping coupled to said foundation so as to selectively draw a suction on the interior of said assembly chamber in which said workpiece is disposed.