Active fixturing device and system

A system for machining semi-rigid curved panels includes a fixturing device within an enclosure cell, the cell having a sealable entrance and a sealable exit. A holding table, moveable through the sealable entrance between the inside and outside of the cell, is configured to receive unfinished semi-rigid curved panels. Another holding table, fixed outside of the cell, is configured to receive processed semi-rigid curved panels. A first robot inside the cell transports the semi-rigid curved panels from the first holding table and onto the fixturing device, later transporting the curved panels from the fixturing device onto the second holding table through the sealable exit. A second robot processes the semi-rigid curved panels on the fixturing device. A controller is configured to sequentially actuate first and second robots for transporting and processing the semi-rigid curved panels, and to manage a vacuum clamping system for workpiece retention on the fixturing device.