Modular turret-style base plate system for CNC machines

A system for holding work pieces, said system comprising:

• a generally cylindrical base plate having a generally flat and circular top surface, a generally flat and circular bottom surface, a side wall interconnecting the top and bottom surfaces, and a plurality of pockets formed in the side wall, wherein the top and bottom surfaces are generally parallel to one another and are generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the base plate;
• and
• a plurality of fixture blocks each comprising:
• a body positioned in a respective one of said pockets and removably attached to the base plate;
• and a work piece holder attached to the body, wherein the work piece holder holds a separate work piece for machining operations on the work piece by a machine tool external to the work piece holder system, said separate work piece being held individually by the work piece holder without cooperation of any other portions of the work piece holder system;
• wherein:
• the work pieces, or respective upper portions thereof, are held by the work piece holders at or above the top surface of the base plate, said work pieces being held at an orientation extending axially outwards from the top surface of the base and at a position radially spaced outwards from an outer edge of the base plate top surface;
• and
• the work piece holders are generally evenly angularly positioned about the periphery of the base plate top surface, with respect to the base plate longitudinal axis, for rotational indexing of the base plate about the longitudinal axis by an angular index corresponding to an angular distance between successive work piece holders.