A blade support cradle is described, which can be used to support a section of a wind turbine blade using an array of vacuum clamps. The cradle provides a secure and reliable system for the support of a blade section during and after blade manufacture, allowing for various operations to be easily carried out on the surface of the blade section. A method for receiving a blade section in the cradle is further described. In addition, the cradle may be used as part of a blade post-moulding station in a method of manufacturing a wind turbine blade.

An apparatus for aligning materials in order to construct an article is provided. The apparatus may include an array of moveable pins and a solid plate having an array of holes, where the array of holes is aligned with the array of pins. Each pin may be extended and/or retracted by a programmable actuator array. When a pin is extended, at least a portion of the pin may extend through the hole with which it is aligned, such that at least a portion of the pin extends beyond the solid plate. A fraction of the total number of pins in the array of pins may be extended by the programmable actuator array. The particular pins that are to be extended may be based on a pattern for an article. A material that is to be used in constructing the article may be aligned using the extended pins.

A method is provided for positioning a component, in particular a sheet metal component, which has a first hole or a first recess. The component with the first hole or the first recess is placed on a first support which is spherical-shaped or shaped as a spherical cap.

A clamping system includes a housing, a clamping lever pivotally coupled relative to the housing, a clamping arm pivotally coupled relative to the housing and the clamping lever, and an expandable link coupled to the clamping arm. The clamping lever and the clamping arm are rotatable from an open position to a closed (clamped) position. A method of mounting a device on a substrate using the clamping system is also provided.

A plasma processing apparatus of processing a processing target object within a depressurized space is provided. The plasma processing apparatus includes a processing vessel that partitions a depressurizable space; a mounting table, provided within the processing vessel, having an electrostatic chuck which is for a focus ring and has three electrodes; a power supply configured to apply three AC voltages having different phases to the three electrodes, respectively, to adsorb a target object on the electrostatic chuck.

A floating type machining platform includes a base, a holding platform, a first elastic module, a second elastic module and a third elastic module. The holding platform is configured to hold a workpiece. The first elastic module is connected between the base and the holding platform for allowing the holding platform to move along and rotate around a first axis relative to the base. The second elastic module is connected between the base and the holding platform for allowing the holding platform to move along and rotate around a second axis relative to the base. The third elastic module is connected between the base and the holding platform for allowing the holding platform to move along and rotate around a third axis relative to the base. Wherein, the first and the second axes are different horizontal axes, and the third axis is a vertical axis.

A precision-locating dowel pin includes a threaded portion configured for adjustable attachment to a fixed object, a head integrally formed at the top of the threaded portion, and a top surface at the top of the head. The head is selectively machined and treated to provide a radially exterior precision-locating surface.

A tooling for holding a set of preformed parts to be friction-welded together to construct a generally plane hollow structure is provide. The tooling includes a framework for receiving the preformed parts inside the framework for welding together to form the hollow structure. The framework includes shape-holder members which are shaped to correspond and contact the outer surfaces of the preformed parts. At least one anvil is disposed inside the framework. A reversible clamp is installed inside the framework and movable into a clamping position in which the clamp inflates to apply opposing thrust in at least two directions such that thrust is applied in a lateral direction to the anvil and applied in a second direction to the inside surface of the preformed parts disposed. The set of preformed parts is held in a welding position with the clamp and framework while a welding operation is performed.

An apparatus for holding a workpiece includes a fixture base, a linear actuator coupled to the fixture base and having an outboard end that is linearly movable by the linear actuator, and a vacuum gripper located at the outboard end of the linear actuator. The linear actuator is configured to linearly move the vacuum gripper relative to the fixture base into contact with a surface of the workpiece. With the vacuum gripper in contact with the surface of the workpiece, the vacuum gripper is configured to grip the workpiece using a vacuum formed between the vacuum gripper and the surface of the workpiece. With the vacuum formed between the vacuum gripper and the surface of the workpiece, the linear actuator is configured to lock linear movement of the vacuum gripper.

A rack for holding a portion of a thrust reverser. The rack may include a base and a supporting frame disposed perpendicularly with the base. The base and the supporting frame may include a hinge at each location where the base and the supporting frame are coupled together. The rack may also include two supporting poles parallel to the supporting frame. The two supporting poles may be designed such that the portion of the thrust reverser may be mounted onto the two supporting poles.