The Boeing Company
Apparatus and method for holding a workpiece

Abstract:

An apparatus for holding a workpiece includes a fixture base, a linear actuator coupled to the fixture base and having an outboard end that is linearly movable by the linear actuator, and a vacuum gripper located at the outboard end of the linear actuator. The linear actuator is configured to linearly move the vacuum gripper relative to the fixture base into contact with a surface of the workpiece. With the vacuum gripper in contact with the surface of the workpiece, the vacuum gripper is configured to grip the workpiece using a vacuum formed between the vacuum gripper and the surface of the workpiece. With the vacuum formed between the vacuum gripper and the surface of the workpiece, the linear actuator is configured to lock linear movement of the vacuum gripper.