Fixation of these large parts on the machine was originally planned using clamps. Because of the surface area involved that method would have been impractical and too time-consuming, also the clamps would have impaired the traverse path of the tool. Fixation via vacuum clamping was a much more viable alternative.

The machine was equipped with a Flip Pod vacuum system from Witte Bleckede. This system is characterized by high holding forces and is suitable for applications on large machines as well as for machining processes on wood and plastic work pieces. Beyond that the seals are designed and developed in such a way that natural fiber materials and rough or uneven surfaces can also be clamped. When parts are clamped their outer workpiece contours remain free enabling milling of chamfers, radii and undercuts around the outside. The Flip Pod vacuum chucks have a regular grid of pockets, into which so-called Pods are inserted. These Pods are as it were the contact points to the workpiece, through which it is sucked down and thereby clamped. Unused Pods are turned over (flipped) and stored in the cavities (pods) of the Pod plate. Different configurations can be flipped up at any time corresponding to the geometry of different work pieces.

In the existing application the milling machine was equipped with six Flip Pod chucks each measuring 300x300 mm. The plates are operated separately, so that milling of different sized work pieces is possible. All necessary accessories such as vacuum pump with integrated liquid separator, manifold distributor, safety equipment and hoses configured for this application were part of the vacuum package solution.