Magnetorheological fluids workpiece holding apparatus and method

An apparatus for holding at least one workpiece comprising:

• an open cell defining a volume containing a magnetorheological fluid conforming to a surface of said at least one workpiece;
• means to reversibly solidify said volume of magnetorheological fluid, thereby immobilizing said at least one workpiece;
• and
• a perforated fixture having a plurality of workpiece holding elements to secure said at least one workpiece in a desired position and orientation, said perforated fixture having an exterior volume smaller than said open cell volume such that said perforated fixture seats within said open cell volume and is at least partially immersed in said magnetorheological fluid together with said at least one workpiece secured at said desired position and orientation.

An apparatus for holding at least one workpiece comprising:

• an open cell defining a volume containing a magnetorheological fluid conforming to a surface of said at least one workpiece;
• and
• means to reversibly solidify said volume of magnetorheological fluid, thereby immobilizing said at least one workpiece;
• wherein said magnetorheological fluid is encapsulated within at least one deformable packet, said at least one deformable packet conforming to said surface of said at least one workpiece.

An apparatus for holding one or more workpieces of various shapes comprising:

• an open cell defining a volume containing a magnetorheological fluid into which one or more workpieces are partially immersed;
• a magnet configured to selectively apply a magnetic field to said magnetorheological fluid in said volume of said open cell to solidify said magnetorheological fluid in response to the application of said magnetic field, thereby immobilizing said one or more workpieces;
• and
• a clamping element securing said open cell, said clamping element configured to apply a compressive force to said open cell, thereby decreasing said volume and exerting pressure on said magnetorheological fluid.

An apparatus for holding one or more workpieces of various shapes comprising:

• an open cell defining a volume containing a magnetorheological fluid into which one or more workpieces are partially immersed;
• a magnet configured to selectively apply a magnetic field to said magnetorheological fluid in said volume of said open cell to solidify said magnetorheological fluid in response to the application of said magnetic field, thereby immobilizing said one or more workpieces;
• and
• wherein said open cell includes at least one compressible member, said compressible member compressing in response to application of said compressive force, thereby reducing said volume.

An apparatus for holding one or more workpieces of various shapes comprising:

• an open cell defining a volume containing a magnetorheological fluid into which one or more workpieces are partially immersed;
• a magnet configured to selectively apply a magnetic field to said magnetorheological fluid in said volume of said open cell to solidify said magnetorheological fluid in response to the application of said magnetic field, thereby immobilizing said one or more workpieces;
• and
• a fixture for securing said one or more workpieces in a predetermined position and orientation, said fixture configured for at least partial immersion in said magnetorheological fluid in said volume of said open cell.

An apparatus for holding one or more workpieces of various shapes comprising:

• an open cell defining a volume containing a magnetorheological fluid into which one or more workpieces are partially immersed said open cell having:
• a first U-shaped frame member surrounding a first cell wall on three sides;
• a center U-shaped frame member;
• and
• a second U-shaped frame member surround a second frame cell wall on three sides;
• said first U-shaped frame member and said second U-shaped frame members secured to said center U-shaped frame member on opposite sides such that said first cell wall, said second cell wall, and a portion of the surface of said center U-shaped frame member define said volume;
• and
• a magnet configured to selectively apply a magnetic field to said magnetorheological fluid in said volume of said open cell to solidify said magnetorheological fluid in response to the application of said magnetic field, thereby immobilizing said one or more workpieces.

A method for immobilizing a workpiece comprising the steps of:

• seating a workpiece at a desired orientation and position in a fixture;
• immersing said fixture and a portion of said workpiece in a magnetorheological fluid;
• and
• applying a magnetic field to said magnetorheological fluid to cause said magnetorheological fluid to undergo an increase in viscosity in response to said magnetic field and apply a uniform holding force to said fixture and said workpiece.

A method for immobilizing a workpiece comprising the steps of:

• seating a workpiece at a desired orientation and position in a fixture;
• immersing said fixture and a portion of said workpiece in a magnetorheological fluid;
• applying a magnetic field to said magnetorheological fluid to cause said magnetorheological fluid to undergo an increase in viscosity in response to said magnetic field and apply a uniform holding force to said fixture and said workpiece;
• and
• applying a compressive force to said increased viscosity magnetorheological fluid to further increase the uniform holding force applied to said fixture and said workpiece.

A method for immobilizing a workpiece comprising the steps of:

• immersing a portion of said workpiece in a magnetorheological fluid;
• increasing the viscosity of said magnetorheological fluid to applying a uniform holding force to said workpiece;
• securing said workpiece in a desired position and orientation prior to immersion in said magnetorheological fluid;
• and
• wherein the step of securing said workpiece utilizes a perforated fixture for holding said workpiece in said desired position and orientation, said magnetorheological fluid flowing through said perforated fixture upon immersion of said workpiece.

A method for immobilizing a workpiece comprising the steps of:

• immersing a portion of said workpiece in a magnetorheological fluid;
• increasing the viscosity of said magnetorheological fluid to applying a uniform holding force to said workpiece by application of a magnetic field to said magnetorheological fluid;
• and
• further increasing the viscosity of said magnetorheological fluid by application of a compressive force to said magnetorheological fluid, whereby said uniform holding force to said workpiece is further increased.

A method for immobilizing a workpiece comprising the steps of:

• immersing a portion of said workpiece in a magnetorheological fluid;
• applying a magnetic field to said magnetorheological fluid to cause said magnetorheological fluid undergoing an increase in viscosity in response to said magnetic field and apply a uniform holding force to said workpiece;
• and
• applying a compressive force to said increased viscosity magnetorheological fluid to increase the uniform holding force applied to said workpiece.

A method for immobilizing a workpiece comprising the steps of:

• locating a workpiece at a desired position and orientation in an open cell;
• conforming a deformable packet encapsulating magnetorheological fluid between a surface of said workpiece and said open cell;
• applying a magnetic field to said encapsulated magnetorheological fluid to cause said encapsulated magnetorheological fluid to undergo an increase in viscosity in response to said magnetic field and apply a uniform holding force between said workpiece surface and said open cell;
• and
• applying a compressive force to said deformable packet encapsulating said magnetorheological fluid to cause said encapsulated magnetorheological fluid to undergo a further increase in viscosity responsive to said compressive force so as to increase the uniform holding force applied between said workpiece surface and said open cell.

An apparatus for holding at least one workpiece comprising:

• an open cell containing magnetorheological fluid;
• a fixture having a plurality of workpiece holding elements for securing the at least one workpiece in a desired position and orientation at least partially immersed in the magnetorheological fluid within the open cell;
• a magnet for applying a magnetic field to the magnetorheological fluid to increase the viscosity of the magnetorheological fluid and apply a uniform holding force to the at least one workpiece;
• and
• a compression element for compressing the increased viscosity magnetorheological fluid to further increase the viscosity of the magnetorheological fluid as well as the uniform holding force to the at least one workpiece.