Patent ID: 7380798

Claim:
A clamping device for accurately clamping an annular workpiece having an inner surface, said clamping device comprising: a workholder having an end face; an opposite end face; and an aperture formed from said end face through said opposite end face, said aperture having a central axis; a base support member mounted to said workholder for supporting said workholder, said base support member having a sleeve portion extending into said aperture of said workholder in a direction towards said end face of said workholder, said sleeve portion terminating in a radial flange projecting radially inward towards said central axis and defining an aperture in said base support member, said aperture having a stepped base; an O-ring member disposed on said radial flange of said sleeve portion of said base support member; and means for imposing a clamping force on said O-ring member, said means for imposing a clamping force on said O-ring member mounted complementary with said O-ring member and said inner surface of said workpiece whereby when said workpiece is mounted to said workholder and extending into said aperture of said workholder, said clamping force resiliently deforms said O-ring member to generate a clamping force component on said workpiece in a direction away from said end face of said workholder and a clamping force component in a direction towards said inner surface of said workpiece to securely hold said workpiece in said workholder for machining thereof.