The present apparatus relates to a standardized assembly unit for building objects by utilizing connection elements that mechanically attach together permanently. By utilizing particular surface features and characteristics, such as compressive tabs and interlocking structures, the interlocking units described herein are able to impart structural stability to various objects without the need to provide overlapping layers of material or fasteners. More specifically, utilizing only mechanical linkages and connectors, a collection of interlocking units are utilized to assemble complex objects having high strength, durability and permanence.

A manufacturing process management (MPM) computer device is provided. The MPM computer device is configured to store a first version of a product and a second version of the product. The second version includes the first plurality of parts, the second plurality of parts, and a third plurality of parts associated with the plug. The first location is between the first plurality of locations and the second plurality of locations. The MPM computer device is also configured to calculate a first numbering system, calculate a second numbering system for a third plurality of locations associated with the third plurality of parts, determine a first grid overlay for the first version of the product based on the first numbering system, determine a second grid overlay for the second version of the product based on the first numbering system and the second numbering system.

A method of providing a modular prosthetic socket for a residual limb of a patient may involve receiving digital data defining a three-dimensional digital profile of the residual limb and selecting prosthetic socket components from component-specific inventories, based at least in part on the digital profile. The selected prosthetic socket components may include: multiple longitudinal struts; one or more proximal brim members for attachment to the longitudinal struts; and a distal socket base to which the longitudinal struts attach at or near their distal ends. The method may further involve providing the selected prosthetic components to an operator for assembling into the modular prosthetic socket. The prosthetic socket, when assembled, defines an internal space substantially complementary to the profile of the residual limb.

The present invention is directed to an object construction device configured to enclose a specified assembly area and assemble objects, such as toys, using standardized interlocking assembly units. The construction device includes processor with a memory device configured to access an instruction set encoding the assembly instructions of the object. The processor executes the instruction set in order to control and direct an assembly unit manipulator to additively construct or assemble the object from the interlocking assembly units. The assembly units are configured with surface features that interconnect the assembly units such that once connected they are substantially permanently attached to one another.

An adjustment apparatus capable of adjusting various types of processing units of a substrate processing apparatus within a shorter period of time is disclosed. The adjustment apparatus includes a main operation device configured to manipulate the processing units and adjust the designated operations, terminal operation devices configured to manipulate the processing units and adjust the designated operations, a network that connects the processing units and the main operation device to each other; and connecting devices configured to connect the terminal operation devices to the network and disconnect the terminal operation devices from the network. Each of the terminal operation devices is configured to be able to manipulate at least one of the processing units.

The invention relates to an automated method of assembling or processing components using computer numerical controlled drives to decouple the stages of delivering components to a tool, into a series of separately programmable stages, namely, a component loading stage, a component separating stage, an accelerating stage and a delivery stage, wherein the timing, position, speed, velocity, and acceleration of each component during each stage is selected through programming of the computer numerical controls.

A manufacturing process management (MPM) computer device is provided. The MPM computer device is configured to store a first version of a product and a second version of the product. The second version includes the first plurality of parts, the second plurality of parts, and a third plurality of parts associated with the plug. The first location is between the first plurality of locations and the second plurality of locations. The MPM computer device is also configured to calculate a first numbering system, calculate a second numbering system for a third plurality of locations associated with the third plurality of parts, determine a first grid overlay for the first version of the product based on the first numbering system, determine a second grid overlay for the second version of the product based on the first numbering system and the second numbering system.

A manufacturing process management (MPM) computer device is provided. The MPM computer device includes a processor and at least one memory device. The MPM computer device is configured to receive a first engineering design for a first configuration of a product to be assembled including an engineering bill of materials and a plurality of requirements, receive a first manufacturing process plan for the first configuration of the product including a plurality of operations, compare the plurality of operations with the plurality of requirements to determine whether each requirement of the plurality of requirements is met by at least one of the plurality of operations, associate each requirement with one or more of the plurality of operations based on the comparison, receive a notification from a user indicating that a first operation is complete, and store an indication that one or more requirements associated with the first operation are complete.

An embedded processing system includes processing circuitry, a memory system, and a plurality of attached modular components. The attached modular components are each provided with a nameplate including at least part and serial number data. The processing circuitry is operable to receive the nameplate information from each of the attached modular components and compare the received nameplate information with stored nameplate information for the particular attached modular component. The processing circuitry is operable to communicate with the attached modular component if the received nameplate information matches the stored nameplate information and identify a fault if the received nameplate information conflicts with the stored nameplate information. A method and an assembly are also disclosed.

This invention provides a system and method for guiding the workpieces to optimal positions to train an assembly system that is generally free of the use of a CMM or similar metrology device. The system and method expresses the image features of the workpieces, when they are in their respective stations, in a common coordinate system. This ability allows a user to visualize the result of assembling the workpieces without actually assembling them, in a virtual assembly. The virtual assembly assists guiding placement of workpieces in respective stations into a desired relative alignment. The system and method illustratively generates a composite image using the images from cameras used in guiding the workpieces that helps the user visualize how the part would appear following assembly. The user can reposition the images of workpieces in their respective stations until the composite image has a desired appearance.