Abstract: An apparatus for chucking a workpiece to a worktable includes a plurality of magnetically activated vacuum flow check valves, which uses a magnet within its body, to block a port through which atmosphere can flow to a vacuum source. The magnet blocking the flow can be drawn off the port seat by positioning a second (activator) magnet in a cavity of the valve body proximal the first magnet. The resulting effect is the communication of a vacuum suction force from the vacuum source to the workpiece. The second (activator) magnet is preferably affixed to a bottom surface of a puck which, when received within a complementary structure on the valve assembly, serves as a chucking mechanism for securely holding a workpiece above the surface of the machining table during the machining operating.

Abstract: An apparatus for chucking a workpiece to a worktable includes a plurality of magnetically activated vacuum flow check valves, which uses a magnet within its body, to block a port through which atmosphere can flow to a vacuum source. The magnet blocking the flow can be drawn off the port seat by positioning a second (activator) magnet in a cavity of the valve body proximal the first magnet. The resulting effect is the communication of a vacuum suction force from the vacuum source to the workpiece. The second (activator) magnet is preferably affixed to a bottom surface of a puck which, when received within a complementary structure on the valve assembly, serves as a chucking mechanism for securely holding a workpiece above the surface of the machining table during the machining operating.