OPENTECHNICAL PUBLICATION OT-2026-000003241 Vacuum plates Published: 2026-09-15T19:55:19.354836Z Permanent URL: https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000003241 Categories: Tools & Tooling > Clamping Tools ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ABSTRACT A vacuum plate system comprises a support plate (310) formed of a plurality of support plate modules (320-380) that are supported on a base plate, and serve to transfer vacuum between vacuum apertures in the base plate and a workpiece held on the support plate (310). The support plate module (340) is formed with a plurality of circular lip seals (341) of larger size, and disposed therebetween, a plurality of lip seals (349) of smaller size. The area within each of the lip seals (341, 349) has a small hole extending through the respective support plate module, to transfer vacuum in a restricted manner. The remaining support plate modules are of a similar configuration, but with variations. In machining of a workpiece held on the support plate modules (320-280), the modules may be cut into, without risk of losing the vacuum overall holding effect on the workpiece. The specification discloses various other support plates. 1. Drawings [0001] Sheet 1. [0002] Sheet 2. [0003] Sheet 3. [0004] Sheet 4. [0005] Sheet 5. [0006] Sheet 6. [0007] Sheet 7. [0008] Sheet 8. [0009] Sheet 9. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ OpenTechnical publication OT-2026-000003241 Published 2026-09-15T19:55:19.354836Z https://opentechnical.org/p/OT-2026-000003241