APPARATUS FOR WORKING ON SHEET MATERIAL AND HAVING MAGNETIC HOLDDOWN MEANS

摘要

Sheet material spread on a cutting table is clamped to the surface of the table by parallel flexible bands of ferromagnetic material attracted to the table by magnets associated with the table. The bands are threaded under and over rollers journalled on a tool carriage which moves a cutter wheel in cutting engagement with the sheet material in response to command signals received from a programmable computer. The rollers pick up portions of the bands ahead of the carriage assembly and lay down portions of the bands behind it as the carriage assembly advances longitudinally of the table.