Fabrication chuck

摘要

A fabrication chuck for applying a thin membrane to the irregularly-shaped surface of a workpiece includes a foundation adapted to hold the workpiece in a selected fabrication position and an upper chuck assembly adapted to be fastened to the foundation. The upper chuck assembly includes an applicator that is moveably mounted so that it can be displaced towards the workpiece in the assembly chamber. The applicator has a mating surface and is adapted to selectively retain the thin membrane on the mating surface until the applicator is disposed in a position so that the thin membrane can be released and deposited in a desired position on the workpiece. The foundation is adapted to generate a differential pressure across the workpiece and the thin membrane so as to draw the thin membrane down over the workpiece so that it is in conformal contact with the irregularly-shaped surface.