A terminal locator for a hand tool includes a base, a magnet, and a holder attached to the base and rotatable with respect to the base between an open position and a closed position. The holder has a magnet passageway and a resilient latch retaining the magnet in the magnet passageway.

A vacuum cup connected to a robotic arm for picking and placing items is disclosed. The vacuum cup includes one or more walls that defines (i) a first internal cavity and (ii) an opening to the first internal cavity, wherein the first internal cavity is defined at least in part by an interior surface adjacent to the opening to the first internal cavity, the interior surface defining an internal ridge positioned to mechanically engage a material drawn into the first internal cavity through the opening at an angle such that the mechanical engagement resists the material being removed from the first internal cavity via the opening. In response to the item being engaged and the suction system controlling the pressure within the first internal cavity to create a vacuum seal between the vacuum cup and the item, at least part of the item is caused to enter the first internal cavity at least during engagement of the vacuum seal.

An auxiliary sheet-metal working device facilitates the completion of bodywork repair and painting operations with the affixing of anagrams, logos and any kind of indications. For this purpose, the device can include a flat platform with one or more rulers on at least one straight edge. In certain embodiments, the auxiliary sheet-metal working device can include at least one movable and/or removable ruler.

A system for laser processing includes a plate assembly having a first plate, a second plate secured to the first plate, and a pressure chamber located between the plates, a connector extending into and in fluid communication with the pressure chamber, and a fixture having a first end attached to the second plate of the plate assembly, a second end having surface having at least one opening and shaped to fit a part to be retained and laser processed, and a conduit extending therethrough in fluid communication with the pressure chamber and the at least one opening. During use, a pressure generated by a pump may be communicated to the conduit of the fixture through the pressure chamber to provide pressure (e.g., a suction effect) at the opening(s) to secure the part in place, e.g., with respect to another part, so they can be laser processed.

A method for assembling a sensor assembly, the sensor assembly including a cylindrical sensor and a housing, includes inserting the sensor through a circular port in the housing, fixing a concentric gap between the port and the sensor by placing a partially annular tool in the concentric gap, affixing the housing while the tool is in place, and removing the tool after affixing the housing.

An apparatus for securing a substrate includes a detachable plate configured to reversibly attach to a base of a chuck. The base of the chuck includes one or more base-substrate vacuum inlet channels and one or more base-plate inlet channels. The detachable plate includes one or more first vacuum reservoirs and second vacuum reservoirs. The detachable plate is further configured to establish a fluidic connection between the one or more first vacuum reservoirs and the base-plate inlet channels for forming a first vacuum seal between the detachable plate and the base. The detachable plate further includes one or more pass-through channels for fluidic connection with the one or more second vacuum reservoirs for forming a second vacuum seal between the detachable plate and the substrate.

A method for unloading a substrate from a support table configured to support the substrate, the method including: supplying gas to a gap between a base surface of the support table and the substrate via a plurality of gas flow openings in the support table, wherein during an initial phase of unloading the gas is supplied through at least one gas flow opening in an outer region of the support table and not through any gas flow opening in a central region of the support table radially inward of the outer region, and during a subsequent phase of unloading the gas is supplied through at least one gas flow opening in the outer region and at least one gas flow opening in the central region.

A vacuum holder for articles, a combination of a vacuum holder and an article, a system for holding and conveying articles, and a method for holding and conveying articles are disclosed. The vacuum holder includes a main body having a surface and an air passageway leading to the surface, and a valve joined to the main body and in fluid communication with the air passageway. The vacuum holder includes an extensible skirt gasket with an opening therein. An article can be placed adjacent to the surface of the main body, and a vacuum can be drawn through the air passageway to hold the article to the vacuum holder. The valve maintains the vacuum between the article and the vacuum holder without being connected to a vacuum source, until it is desired to release the article from the vacuum holder.

Disclosed are a negative pressure driven sucking apparatus and a preparation method thereof. The sucking apparatus comprises a sucking disc body, wherein a negative pressure cavity is formed in the middle of the sucking disc body, and the negative pressure cavity is connected with a vacuum line, and the bottom of the negative pressure cavity having a flexible section, and an annular wedge-shaped microstructure is formed at the bottom of the body surrounding the flexible section. Stable loading and release processes of the annular wedge-shaped microstructure are realized.

A high-precision air floating motion platform and method for wafer test, wherein the air floating motion platform includes: a base; a beam installed on the base; a sliding table configured to carry a wafer; a linear motor configured to drive the sliding table to slide along the beam; at least three sensors configured to detect a vertical straightness of the wafer; air bearings including a first air bearing, a second air bearing and a third air bearing; the air bearings being configured for suspension of the sliding table; and a compensation device configured to compensate the vertical straightness of the wafer based on a real-time data detected by the sensors.