Cna Manufacturing Systems, Inc.

Larry R Cook

Robert A Starr

Mark S Soderberg

Kenneth O'Neil Kelly

Robert J Thomas

Justin Somers Stamen

Brian Lee Miller

Steven Heath Mason

Robert B Erley

Jeffrey A Sterk

The low profile of the flexible tooling system disclosed allows for flexible tooling to be added to nearly all CNC machines with an accommodating z-axis height and allows easier relocation of the system from one CNC machine to another. The system includes one or more pods, each of the pods of the system replacing the function of four independent actuators of earlier systems but operating with a shared mechanical frame. Arranging the mechanism into groups of four allows for greater density of part support spacing, minimizes cable requirements, and allows for air, vacuum, and vacuum sensor requirements be localized on each pod. The pods allow for part supports to be spaced as close as 6&#x2033; in the x and y axis. An increased variable position assembly density allows for greater flexibility to hold complicated parts.

Pneumatic manifold-based flexible tooling system

Flexible tooling system

A clamp for clamping extendible supports in flexible tooling system includes three overlapping tapered collets surrounding the extendible support, with a set of ball bearings positioned between each of the collets. The middle collet is tapered in a direction opposite to that of the inner and outer collets, so that when the middle collet is pressed by springs into a gap between the inner and outer collet, the inner collet is forced against the extendible support, thereby clamping it. The ball bearings and the three collet assembly prevent the clamp from binding with thermal expansion so that the clamp releases when the force pressing the middle collet into the space between the inner and outer collet is removed. The springs maintain a sustained clamping force so the clamp does not release upon thermal expansion of it components.

Clamp suitable for use at high temperatures in a flexible tooling apparatus

A flexible tooling system includes a support table with multiple openings adapted to removably accept a self-contained actuator. Each opening of the support table provides vacuum and air supply lines as well as a bus interface so that each position may be uniquely addressed and commanded separately from any other openings. The self-contained actuator has corresponding connectors for receiving the vacuum and air supply as well as for interfacing with the bus. An actuator may be placed at a particular location by insertion into the receptacle at the opening in the support table aperture. The actuator may be commanded to raise, lower, lock in position and supply vacuum separate from any other actuator.

Flexible tooling method

Flexible tooling apparatus

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Woodinville, WA, United States of America

Larry R Cook