Stone fabrication positioning system

Abstract

A stone cutting system effective for mechanically delineating defined datum points in a Cartesian coordinate system by positioning at least one datum point defining means per coordinate comprising a combination blocking and clamping device, a table of a computer numerically controlled (CNC) stoneworking machine, a locating means positioned on the table, the blocking and clamping device being in the form of a parallelepiped including a bottom surface having a plurality of apertures adapted to enable positioning about the locating means, a top surface having a first blocking edge and a second clamping edge, including at least one means for clamping a workpiece within said top surface second clamping edge, a left side surface, a right side surface, a front surface, a rear surface, and at least one means for fixation of said device on said table.

1 . A symmetrically arranged combination blocking and clamping device useful with a table of a computer numerically controlled (CNC) system for stoneworking including at least one locating means, said blocking and clamping device in the form of a parallelepiped comprising: 
 a bottom surface having a plurality of apertures adapted to enable positioning about at least one locating means;    a top surface having a first blocking edge and a second clamping edge, including at least one means for clamping a workpiece within said top surface second clamping edge;    a left side surface;    a right side surface;    a front surface;    a rear surface; and    at least one means for fixation of said device upon said table.    
   
   
       2 . The blocking and clamping device of  claim 1  wherein said locating means comprises a dowel pin.  
   
   
       3 . The blocking and clamping device of  claim 2  further including means for attaching said device to said table.  
   
   
       4 . The blocking and clamping device of  claim 1  wherein said top and said bottom surface are in removable engagement with said left side surface and said right side surface.  
   
   
       5 . The blocking and clamping device of  claim 1  wherein said first blocking edge and said second clamping edge include removable stone workpiece abutting surfaces comprising a material which has a hardness less than that of said stone workpiece.  
   
   
       6 . The blocking and clamping device of  claim 5  further including fasteners attaching said removable abutting surface to said first blocking edge and said second clamping edge.  
   
   
       7 . A stone cutting system effective for mechanically delineating defined datum points in a Cartesian coordinate system by positioning at least one datum point defining means per coordinate comprising in combination: 
 a combination blocking and clamping device;    a table of a computer numerically controlled (CNC) stoneworking machine;    a locating means positioned on said table;    said blocking and clamping device being in the form of a parallelepiped including a bottom surface having a plurality of apertures adapted to enable positioning about said at least one locating means, a top surface having a first blocking edge and a second clamping edge, including at least one means for clamping a workpiece within said top surface second clamping edge, a left side surface, a right side surface, a front surface, a rear surface, and at least one means for fixation of said device on said table.    
   
   
       8 . The stone cutting system of  claim 7  wherein said locating means comprises a dowel pin.  
   
   
       9 . The stone cutting system of  claim 7  further including means for attaching said device to said table.  
   
   
       10 . The stone cutting system of  claim 7  wherein said top and said bottom surface are in removable engagement with said left side surface and said right side surface.  
   
   
       11 . The stone cutting system of  claim 7  wherein said first blocking edge and said second clamping edge include removable stone workpiece abutting surfaces comprising a material which has a hardness less than that of said stone workpiece.  
   
   
       12 . The stone cutting system of  claim 11  further including fasteners attaching said removable surface to said first blocking edge and said second clamping edge.  
   
   
       13 . The stone cutting system of  claim 7  further including means to support said workpiece on said table.  
   
   
       14 . The stone cutting system of  claim 13  wherein said means to support said workpiece comprises vacuum pods positioned on said table.  
   
   
       15 . A method for mechanically delineating defined datum points in a Cartesian coordinate system by positioning at least one datum point defining means per coordinate comprising: 
 positioning a locating means on a table of a computer numerically controlled (CNC) stoneworking machine;    positioning a blocking and clamping device on said table;    said blocking and clamping device being in the form of a parallelepiped including a bottom surface having a plurality of apertures enable with said locating means, a top surface having a first blocking edge and a second clamping edge, including at least one means for clamping a workpiece within said top surface second clamping edge, a left side surface, a right side surface, a front surface, a rear surface, and at least one means for fixation of said device on said table.    
   
   
       16 . A method for positioning a workpiece on a stone cutting machine comprising: 
 positioning a locating means on a table of said stone cutting machine;    positioning at least one blocking and clamping device on said table;    said blocking and clamping device including a top surface having a first blocking edge and a second clamping edge, including means for clamping said workpiece within said top surface second clamping edge and a bottom surface having at least one aperture engaging said locating means;    positioning said workpiece against either said first blocking edge or said second clamping edge of a first said device;    positioning said workpiece against either said first blocking edge or said second clamping edge of a second said device;    establishing datum points in a Cartesian coordinate system;    providing means coupled to a processing device for receiving said datum points; and    providing means relating the position of said workpiece to said established datum points;    wherein establishment of said known Cartesian coordinate datum points facilitates machine setup.