Workpiece holding assembly

A workpiece holding assembly for a metal machining apparatus having a machine tool and a work table with a table surface orthogonally referenced to said tool comprising:

• a rail secured to said work table, said rail being defined by a flat bottom surface from which perpendicularly extend front and back side surfaces, said side surfaces being parallel to each other and extending between opposing end walls, an oblique top surface inclined upwardly from said back side surface to a ridge, a front top surface extending from said front side surface to a merger corner, a front face surface extending from said merger corner to said ridge, said flat bottom surface lying flat upon said table surface so that said side surfaces are perpendicular to said table surface and are positioned in a predetermined orientation relative to said tool;
• a rail clamp adjustably attached to said rail, said rail clamp having an inner channel overlying said rail defined by front and back legs each with a flat bottom leg surface for resting upon said table, said back leg having a flat inner channel surface that extends perpendicularly from a respective bottom leg surface and forms part of a cross-sectional outline of said inner channel that is substantially coextensive with the cross-sectional outline of said rail;
• said rail clamp including a leveler connector means comprising opposing flat upstanding connector faces that extend inwardly from respective outer corners of the front leg in a manner that is perpendicular to corresponding bottom leg surfaces and parallel with said inner channel surface to respective first and second oppositely flared surfaces which are joined by a front leg face, each of said first and second flared surfaces and said front leg face are perpendicular to the bottom leg surfaces;
• and,
• a leveler head adjustably connected to said leveler connector means having a base area and a connector portion extending above the base area and an attachment portion that includes a downwardly facing attachment surface that is parallel to the bottom leg surfaces of said rail clamp and is offset above and outward from said base area, said connector portion corresponding in cross-sectional shape to the cross-sectional shape of said leveler connector means including respective opposing flat upstanding leveler faces that abut against corresponding connector faces of the leveler connector means, said leveler faces terminating at respective inner edges from which extend respective outwardly angled surfaces which engage the corresponding first and second flared surfaces of said leveler connector means, said angled surfaces terminating at a leveler head inner face which abuts against the front leg face of said leveler connector means, the front leg face of said leveler connector means including an outwardly extending projection having an abutment surface, said leveler head connector portion including vertical adjustment means that engages said abutment surface for vertically moving said leveler head.

A workpiece holding assembly for a metal machining apparatus having a machine tool and a work table with a table surface orthogonally referenced to said tool comprising:

• a rail secured to said work table, said rail being defined by a flat bottom surface from which perpendicularly extend front and back side surfaces, said side surfaces being parallel to each other and extending between opposing end walls, an oblique top surface inclined upwardly from said back side surface to a ridge, a front top surface extending from said front side surface to a merger corner, a front face surface extending from said merger corner to said ridge, said flat bottom surface lying flat upon said table surface so that said side surfaces are perpendicular to said table surface and are positioned in a predetermined orientation relative to said tool;
• a rail clamp adjustably attached to said rail, said rail clamp having an inner channel overlying said rail defined by front and back legs each with a flat bottom leg surface for resting upon said table, said back leg having a flat inner channel surface that extends perpendicularly from a respective bottom leg surface and forms part of a cross-sectional outline of said inner channel that is substantially coextensive with the cross-sectional outline of said rail;
• said rail clamp including a leveler connector means comprising opposing flat upstanding connector faces that extend inwardly from respective outer corners of the front leg in a manner that is perpendicular to corresponding bottom leg surfaces and parallel with said inner channel surface to respective first and second oppositely flared surfaces which are joined by a front leg face, each of said first and second flared surfaces and said front leg face are perpendicular to the bottom leg surfaces:
• and,
• a leveler head adjustably connected to said leveler connector means having a base area and a connector portion extending above the base area and an attachment portion that includes a downwardly facing attachment surface that is parallel to the bottom leg surfaces of said rail clamp and is offset above and outward from said base area, said connector portion corresponding in cross-sectional shape to the cross-sectional shape of said leveler connector means including respective opposing flat upstanding leveler faces that abut against corresponding connector faces of the leveler connector means, said leveler faces terminating at respective inner edges from which extend respective outwardly angled surfaces which engage the corresponding first and second flared surfaces of said leveler connector means, said angled surfaces terminating at a leveler head inner face which abuts against the front leg face of said leveler connector means wherein the attachment portion of said leveler head includes fastening means for adjustably securing a workpiece clamping means to said leveler head and said fastening means includes a cant adjustment means for orienting said workpiece clamping means relative to said machining tool.

A workpiece holding assembly for positioning a workpiece at a predetermined position within the operating area of a machining apparatus comprising:

• a rail attached to said apparatus having a reference side surface in alignment with a reference line of said apparatus;
• a rail clamp having a leveler connector means with connector faces engaging a leveler head, said rail clamp including an inner channel with an inside wall abutting said side surface, said connector faces and inside wall being orthogonally referenced to each other;
• a leveler head releasably secured to said connector means having a connector portion with leveler faces abutted against said connector faces, said leveler head including an attachment surface orthogonally referenced to said leveler faces, said leveler connector means including a front leg face with an outwardly extending projection, said leveler head having a vertical adjustment means that operates in conjunction with said projection to vertically move said leveler head relative to said rail clamp;
• and,
• a workpiece clamping means having an attachment region in engagement with said attachment surface, said workpiece clamping means holding the workpiece in a predetermined position within said operating area.

A workpiece holding assembly for positioning a workpiece at a predetermined position within the operating area of a machining apparatus comprising:

• a rail attached to said apparatus having a reference side surface in alignment with a reference line of said apparatus;
• a rail clamp having a leveler connector means with connector faces engaging a leveler head, said rail clamp including an inner channel with an inside wall being orthogonally referenced to each other;
• a leveler head releasably secured to said connector means having a connector portion with leveler faces abutted against said connector faces, said leveler head including an attachment surface orthogonally referenced to said leveler faces, said leveler connector means including a locking means for releasably securing said leveler head to said rail clamp comprising a handle actuated lock element which is movable against a corresponding surface of the leveler head;
• and,
• a workpiece clamping means having an attachment region in engagement with said attachment surface, said workpiece clamping means holding the workpiece in a predetermined position within said operating area.