Patent ID: 7380776

Claim:
A flexible track machining device comprising: a rail to conform to a rail-side surface of a workpiece; a vacuum cup for removable connection between the rail and the rail-side surface of a workpiece, the vacuum cup comprising: an inner surface of the vacuum cup; an outer surface of the vacuum cup; a plurality of pads comprising resilient material and joined into a contiguous whole, wherein the area between each pad and the rail-side surface of the workpiece defines a zone and wherein the vacuum cup includes an array of zones corresponding to the plurality of pads; a plurality of stiffener elements, wherein at least one of the plurality of stiffening elements is embedded at least partially within each respective one of the pads, and wherein the stiffener elements are attachable to the rail; and a resilient peripheral seal, joined to the pads and surrounding the periphery of the array of zones; and a carriage to mount a machining device, the carriage being slidably disposed upon the rail.