Machine tool system with tool base and repositionable and relocatable workpiece frame

1 . A machine tool system comprising:

a three-dimensional workpiece,

a machine configured to modify the three-dimensional workpiece,

the machine including a tool base configured to support the three-dimensional workpiece and a shaft spaced apart from the tool base along a first axis and configured to move along the first axis relative to the tool base to modify the three-dimensional workpiece, and

a workpiece frame that is repositionable and relocatable on the tool base in at least two different orientations to support the three-dimensional workpiece in the at least two different orientations relative to the first axis during modification of the three-dimensional workpiece so that different sides of the three-dimensional workpiece are modified without requiring removal of the three-dimensional workpiece from the workpiece frame,

wherein the workpiece frame includes a C-shaped body configured to be coupled to the tool base and defining a workpiece-receiving space therein, a workpiece locator that extends from the C-shaped body into the workpiece-receiving space and into contact with the three-dimensional workpiece to support and position the three-dimensional workpiece relative to the C-shaped body, and a frame locator arranged outside of the workpiece-receiving space and extending away from the C-shaped body and into contact with the tool base to position the C-shaped body relative to the tool base so that the three-dimensional workpiece is properly aligned with the shaft in the at least two different orientations,

wherein the C-shaped body of the workpiece frame includes a first arm, a second arm spaced apart from the first arm, and a third arm extending between and interconnecting terminal ends of the first arm and the second arm, and wherein the workpiece locator includes a first clamp member coupled to the first arm of the C-shaped body, the first clamp member having a first clamp plate that extends inwardly from the first arm toward the second arm and a second clamp plate spaced apart from the first clamp plate and extending inwardly from the first arm toward the second arm, the first and second clamp plates being spaced apart from the third arm along the first arm.

2 . The machine tool system of claim 1 , wherein the first arm, the second arm, and the third arm cooperate to define the workpiece-receiving space.

3 . The machine tool system of claim 2 , wherein the frame locator includes a plurality of frame locating datums positioned outside of the workpiece-receiving space and extending from the C-shaped body and into contact with the tool base to locate the C-shaped body relative to the tool base, and wherein the plurality of frame locating datums includes a first datum coupled to the first arm of the C-shaped body to extend outwardly therefrom beyond a surface of the first am, a second datum coupled to the third arm of the C-shaped body to extend outwardly therefrom beyond a surface of the third arm, and a third datum coupled to the third arm of the C-shaped body to extend outwardly therefrom beyond the surface of the third am and spaced apart from the second datum.

4 . The machine tool system of claim 3 , wherein the frame locator further includes a plurality of pins arranged outside of the workpiece-receiving space and extending from the C-shaped body and into contact with a portion of the machine to couple the portion of the machine with the workpiece frame, and wherein each of the plurality of pins is coupled to the third arm of the C-shaped body and located between the second datum and the third datum along the third arm.

5 . The machine tool system of claim 2 , wherein the first clamp member is configured to hold the three-dimensional workpiece in a stationary position relative to the C-shaped body of the workpiece frame.

6 . The machine tool system of claim 5 , wherein the first clamp member is configured to support a first end of the three-dimensional workpiece and the workpiece locator further includes a second clamp member extending inwardly from the second arm of the C-shaped body toward the first arm to support a second end of the three-dimensional workpiece opposite the first end.

7 . The machine tool system of claim 6 , wherein the second clamp member includes a third clamp plate and a fourth clamp plate spaced apart from the third clamp plate to locate the second end of the three-dimensional workpiece between the third clamp plate and the fourth clamp plate, the third and fourth clamp plates being spaced apart from the third arm along the second arm.

8 . The machine tool system of claim 1 , wherein the workpiece locator further includes a plurality of workpiece locating protrusions extending from the C-shaped body into the workpiece-receiving space and into contact with the three-dimensional workpiece to locate the three-dimensional workpiece within the workpiece-receiving space relative to the C-shaped body.

9 . The machine tool system of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of workpiece locating protrusions includes a first protrusion extending from the third arm of the C-shaped body into the workpiece-receiving space, a second protrusion extending from the third arm of the C-shaped body into the workpiece-receiving space and spaced apart from the first protrusion along the third arm, and a third protrusion extending from the second arm of the C-shaped body toward the first arm and into the workpiece-receiving space.

10 . A machine tool system comprising:

a workpiece,

a machine configured to modify the workpiece, and

a workpiece frame that is repositionable and relocatable on the machine in at least two different orientations to support the workpiece in the at least two different orientations during modification of the workpiece so that different sides of the workpiece are modified without requiring removal of the workpiece from the workpiece frame,

wherein the workpiece frame includes a body configured to be coupled to the machine and defining a workpiece-receiving space therein, a workpiece locator that extends from the body into the workpiece-receiving space and into contact with the workpiece to support and position the workpiece relative to the body, and a frame locator arranged outside of the workpiece-receiving space and extending away from the body to position the body relative to the machine, wherein the body of the workpiece frame includes a first arm, a second arm spaced apart from the first arm, and a third arm extending between and interconnecting terminal ends of the first arm and the second arm,

wherein the workpiece locator includes a first protrusion extending from the third arm of the body into the workpiece-receiving space, a second protrusion extending from the third arm of the body into the workpiece-receiving space and spaced apart from the first protrusion along the third arm, and a third protrusion extending from the second arm of the body toward the first arm, the first, second, and third protrusions being integrally formed with the body.

11 . The machine tool system of claim 10 , wherein the first arm, the second arm, and the third arm cooperate to define the workpiece-receiving space.

12 . The machine tool system of claim 11 , wherein the frame locator includes a plurality of frame locating datums positioned outside of the workpiece-receiving space and extending from the body and into contact with the machine to locate the body relative to the machine, and wherein the plurality of frame locating datums includes a first datum coupled to the first arm of the body and extending outwardly therefrom, a second datum coupled to the third arm of the body and extending outwardly therefrom, and a third datum coupled to the third arm of the body and spaced apart from the second datum, the third datum extending outwardly from the third arm of the body.

13 . The machine tool system of claim 11 , wherein the workpiece locator includes a first clamp member extending from the first arm of the body toward the second arm and a second clamp member extending from the second arm of the body toward the first arm.

14 . The machine tool system of claim 13 , wherein the first clamp member includes a first clamp plate and a second clamp plate spaced apart from the first clamp plate to locate a first end of the workpiece between the first clamp plate and the second clamp plate, the first and second clamp plates being spaced apart from the third arm along the first arm, and wherein the second clamp member includes a third clamp plate and a fourth clamp plate spaced apart from the third clamp plate to locate a second end of the workpiece opposite the first end between the third clamp plate and the fourth clamp plate, the third and fourth clamp plates being spaced apart from the third arm along the second arm.

15 . The machine tool system of claim 13 , wherein the first protrusion, the second protrusion, and the third protrusion extend from the body into the workpiece-receiving space and into contact with the workpiece to locate the workpiece within the workpiece-receiving space relative to the body.

16 . A method of modifying a three-dimensional workpiece, the method comprising:

supporting the three-dimensional workpiece on a C-shaped body of a workpiece frame such that a first side of the three-dimensional workpiece, a second side of the three-dimensional workpiece directly opposing the first side, and an edge of the three-dimensional workpiece that interconnects the first and second sides are accessible by a machine and not covered by the C-shaped body,

positioning the workpiece frame on the machine in a first position,

while the workpiece frame is in the first position, modifying the first side of the three-dimensional workpiece via a shaft of the machine that moves along a first axis,

removing the workpiece frame from the machine,

repositioning the workpiece frame on the machine in a second position different than the first position, and

while the workpiece frame is in the second position, modifying the second side of the three-dimensional workpiece opposite the first side via the shaft of the machine that moves along the first axis.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the C-shaped body of the workpiece frame includes a first arm, a second arm spaced apart from the first arm, and a third arm extending between and interconnecting terminal ends of the first arm and the second arm, and wherein the step of supporting the three-dimensional workpiece on a C-shaped body of a workpiece frame includes supporting the three-dimensional workpiece on a first clamp plate that extends inwardly from the first arm toward the second arm and moving a second clamp plate that extends inwardly from the first arm toward the second arm toward the first clamp plate to clamp the three-dimensional workpiece between the first and second clamp plates.

18 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising, after the step of repositioning, removing the workpiece frame from the machine,

repositioning the workpiece frame on the machine in a third position different than the first position and the second position, and

while the workpiece frame is in the third position, modifying the edge of the three-dimensional workpiece that interconnects the first side and the second side via the shaft of the machine that moves along the first axis.

19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the step of supporting the three-dimensional workpiece on a C-shaped body of a workpiece frame includes moving the three-dimensional workpiece into engagement with a plurality of workpiece locating protrusions of the workpiece frame to position the three-dimensional workpiece relative to and within a workpiece-receiving space of the C-shaped body of the workpiece frame.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the step of positioning the workpiece frame on the machine in a first position includes moving the workpiece frame into contact with the machine so that a frame locator of the workpiece frame contacts the machine to position the C-shaped body relative to the machine, the frame locator arranged outside of the workpiece-receiving space.