Disclosed is a configurable table that uses configurable mounting pieces to mount a work piece on the configurable table at a predetermined location. The configurable table includes a fixed portion of a mounting clamp that can engage a rotatable portion of a mounting clamp on a positioner or other device. The positioner can then rotate the configurable table and work piece to various orientations for performing horizontal welds, using robotic welders, as well as machining and cutting. The configurable table can also be used for initial fabrication, cutting, or working, which eliminates the need for separate fabrication and finish welding tables.

A precision tripod motion system is provided. The tripod motion system in one example includes a bottom plate including three spaced-apart bottom single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) hinge portions, a top plate including three spaced-apart top three-degrees-of-freedom (TDOF) joint portions, with the top plate configured to receive a workpiece, three linear actuators pivotally coupled to the three bottom SDOF hinge portions of the bottom plate and coupled to the three top TDOF joint portions of the top plate, with each linear actuator of the three linear actuators configured to change length over a linear actuation span, and a rotator component and/or a positioning table affixed to the top plate and the bottom plate. The tripod motion system is additionally coupled to a rotator component and a positioning table to provide six degrees of freedom of motion.

A precision tripod motion system is provided. The tripod motion system in one example includes a bottom plate including three spaced-apart bottom single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) hinge portions, a top plate including three spaced-apart top three-degrees-of-freedom (TDOF) joint portions, with the top plate configured to receive a workpiece, three linear actuators pivotally coupled to the three bottom SDOF hinge portions of the bottom plate and coupled to the three top TDOF joint portions of the top plate, with each linear actuator of the three linear actuators configured to change length over a linear actuation span, and a rotator component and/or a positioning table affixed to the top plate and the bottom plate. The tripod motion system is additionally coupled to a rotator component and a positioning table to provide six degrees of freedom of motion.

Disclosed is a configurable table that uses configurable mounting pieces to mount a work piece on the configurable table at a predetermined location. The configurable table includes a fixed portion of a mounting clamp that can engage a rotatable portion of a mounting clamp on a positioner or other device. The positioner can then rotate the configurable table and work piece to various orientations for performing horizontal welds, using robotic welders, as well as machining and cutting. The configurable table can also be used for initial fabrication, cutting, or working, which eliminates the need for separate fabrication and finish welding tables.

A work support apparatus according to the present invention includes a base unit, a holding unit stands on the base unit and holds a work in a cantilevered state, and a tilt mechanism that makes the holding unit pivot with respect to the base unit. The holding unit includes a holding portion holding the work in a state in which a side portion of the work on the holding unit side is exposed. The tilt mechanism is an arcuate slide mechanism including an arcuate shape portion with respect to a virtual horizontal line as the center, and an abutting portion abutting against the arcuate shape portion.

A work support apparatus according to the present invention includes a base unit, a holding unit stands on the base unit and holds a work in a cantilevered state, and a tilt mechanism that makes the holding unit pivot with respect to the base unit. The holding unit includes a holding portion holding the work in a state in which a side portion of the work on the holding unit side is exposed. The tilt mechanism is an arcuate slide mechanism including an arcuate shape portion with respect to a virtual horizontal line as the center, and an abutting portion abutting against the arcuate shape portion.

An apparatus for lifting and rotating a frame of a motor vehicle includes a rotisserie and a rotatably connected fixture that holds the motor vehicle frame during production. The fixture includes clamps extending from arms of the fixture and clamps extending from the front support for affixing the frame of the motor vehicle to the fixture. The fixture may further include a passive lock mechanism for engaging a side sill of the frame that includes a latch, a locking extension, a latch spring that holds the latch in engagement with the frame, and a pendulum that rotates relative to the fixture but remains oriented in a fixed location relative to horizontal. The latch may only be disengaged from the frame when the locking extension is aligned to be received by a slot in the pendulum when the fixture is rotated to the home location.

An apparatus for lifting and rotating a frame of a motor vehicle includes a rotisserie and a rotatably connected fixture that holds the motor vehicle frame during production. The fixture includes clamps extending from arms of the fixture and clamps extending from the front support for affixing the frame of the motor vehicle to the fixture. The fixture may further include a passive lock mechanism for engaging a side sill of the frame that includes a latch, a locking extension, a latch spring that holds the latch in engagement with the frame, and a pendulum that rotates relative to the fixture but remains oriented in a fixed location relative to horizontal. The latch may only be disengaged from the frame when the locking extension is aligned to be received by a slot in the pendulum when the fixture is rotated to the home location.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, a saw guide support is provided. In some embodiments, the saw guide support comprises a base plate adapted to be selectively attached to a work platform, a riser vertically slidably coupled to the base plate, a pivot plate hingedly coupled to the riser such that an angle between the riser and the pivot plate is selectively adjustable, and a rotatable plate selectively rotatably coupled to the pivot plate and adapted to selectively receive a saw guide attached thereto. When the saw guide is selectively attached to the rotatable plate, the saw guide support is adapted to enable the saw guide to be pivoted and rotated relative to the work platform.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, a saw guide support is provided. In some embodiments, the saw guide support comprises a base plate adapted to be selectively attached to a work platform, a riser vertically slidably coupled to the base plate, a pivot plate hingedly coupled to the riser such that an angle between the riser and the pivot plate is selectively adjustable, and a rotatable plate selectively rotatably coupled to the pivot plate and adapted to selectively receive a saw guide attached thereto. When the saw guide is selectively attached to the rotatable plate, the saw guide support is adapted to enable the saw guide to be pivoted and rotated relative to the work platform.