Patent ID: 6378877
Filing Date: 2002-04-30
Classification: B23B,B23Q,Y10T

Abstract:
An apparatus for clamping a work piece in a well defined position within the operating area of a machine tool, comprising:a chuck means adapted to be fixed within the operating area of the machine tool; a work piece carrier means adapted to be fixed to said chuck means and to be clamped thereto; clamping means for clamping said work piece carrier means to said chuck means and adapted to be switched from a released condition to a clamping condition and vice versa; said chuck means comprising first positioning means and said work piece carrier means comprising second positioning means, said first and second positioning means being adapted to cooperate such as to define the position of said work piece carrier means relative to said chuck means along three coordinate axes each running perpendicular to each other as well as with regard to the angular orientation; said clamping means fixing said work piece carrier means to said chuck means once it is switched to said clamping condition to maintain said defined position; said first positioning means comprising conical centering pin means and said second positioning means comprising recess means in the shape of a two-stage groove means having two shoulder means, the edges of said shoulder means protruding towards the interior of said groove means and being separated by a distance that is less than the width of said conical centering pin means, measured between those locations that touch said edges once said work piece carrier means is clamped to said chuck means such that a clamping force provided by said clamping means elastically deforms said edges of said shoulder means to enable a surface of said work piece carrier to abut against elevated surface portions of said chuck means.