Abstract: A vacuum chuck includes a lower base with vacuum plenums, a permanent metal plate with vertically extending holes which communicate with the plenums, a panel of particle board with vertically extending holes disposed in registry with the holes in the metal plate, and a sheet of open cell foam covering the particle board and defining the top surface of the chuck. When a vacuum is drawn in the plenums, it is disbursed beneath the foam sheet via the holes and acts through the foam sheet to clamp the workpiece tightly with respect to the metal plate. During cutting of the workpiece into individual piece parts, a cutting tool cuts through the workpiece and the foam sheet but is prevented by the particle board from cutting into the permanent metal plate.

Abstract: An improved chucking system for workpieces in machine tools has a series of vacuum pods selectively activated for supporting the workpiece in an elevated position relative to the machine tool work table to assure a safe degree of clearance for a cutting tool projecting through the workpiece. The support pods form a grid-like array about the work table in a flush-fit relation to the surface of the work table. Pods have pressure-regulated (air and vacuum) configuration that allows selected pods may be raised above the table surface to support the workpiece and retains the latter in position by applying vacuum to its undersurface. A selected subset of pods to be active and raised while the machining of a particular workpiece is being carried out, without offering any interference to the operation of the cutting tool.

Abstract: A slide is confined for travel along a guide having a surface which can be interengaged by one or more friction pads on the slide. An operating lever rigid to the slide and projecting outwardly therefrom may be grasped at its outer end for the purpose of operating the slide, and because the slide is loosely confined on the guide, the user-applied force on the lever rocks the slide in a direction to press the friction component or components tightly against the cooperating surface of the guide to produce frictional resistance as the slide travels along the guide. The pads may be adjustably positioned in any one of a number of locations for achieving variation in resistance generated by the exerciser, and the lever is itself extensible for adjustment of the moment arm between the end of the lever and the surface of the surface engaged by the friction pads. A variety of embodiments are disclosed including a rectilinear form and a curvilinear form.