A method of mounting a substrate support in a chamber includes placing an auxiliary transfer tool having a first portion and a second portion in a chamber which provides a processing space and an additional space, and which has an opening for communication between the additional space and the outside, the first portion in an expanded state being positioned in the processing space and the second portion being positioned in the additional space, inserting a substrate support having a contact portion for supporting the substrate, a rod portion, and a threaded portion connecting to the rod portion, the rod portion being slid on a side surface of the second portion, shrinking the first portion so that the rod portion is moved downward in the additional space and the threaded portion projects out of the chamber through the opening.

Workpiece-holding tools and techniques are described. Workpiece-holding tools and techniques are usable to ensure consistent and durable alignment of various workpieces while providing access for performing attachment techniques thereon. In one example, the workpiece-holding tool is configured to allow objects to be held or removably affixed to an alignment surface. Holding objects with the workpiece-holding tool ensures that the alignment of objects with an alignment surface does not change while a user is operating upon a workpiece, e.g., as by joining aligned objects together, without interfering or obstructing access to the objects. The ability to hold objects is enhanced by the inclusion of cutouts that provide increased access to interior surfaces of the workpiece-holding tool, such as to increase the area available for use of clamps or other fastening devices.

Method and apparatus for aligning fastener holes of two components. An alignment fixture includes two mating fixtures. Each mating fixture includes a reference plate that is aligned to the fastener holes of one of the components. Each mating fixture also includes an alignment device. The alignment devices can be aligned with the respective reference plates such that the alignment between the reference plates and the fastener holes are transferred to the alignment devices. Once aligned, the alignment devices can be temporarily attached to the respective components at locations away from the fastener holes. The reference plates can then be removed. Thereafter, the components can be brought together such that mating features on the alignment devices engage. Engagement of the mating features aligns the two components such that the fastener holes on the components are aligned.

Workpiece-alignment tools and techniques are described. Workpiece-alignment tools and techniques are usable to ensure consistent and durable alignment of various workpieces while providing access for performing attachment techniques thereon. In one example, the workpiece-alignment tool includes alignment surfaces that are joined to one another and oriented at corresponding specific angles. The workpiece-alignment tool includes accessibility cutouts and access spaces that provide a user simultaneous access to points around a joint formed by objects aligned with the alignment surfaces. In this way, the workpiece-alignment tool provides accessibility that allows a user to operate upon a workpiece, e.g., as by joining aligned objects together, without interfering or obstructing access to the objects.

The present invention is a positioning work stop for use with a with a machining apparatus for performing a machining operation on a work piece, the positioning work stop comprising a retractable element having an extended position for contacting a work piece to ensure that the work piece is in its proper position for machining and a retracted position that provides a gap between the positioning work stop and the work piece, a biasing element that exerts a rearward biasing force of the retractable element, and a stop pin, wherein during the machining operation, when the machining apparatus contacts the stop pin the rearward biasing force automatically moves the retractable element into its retracted position creating a gap between the positioning work stop and the work piece.

A fixture for positioning a component in a desired location in a first plane for assembly, machining, or other processing related to manufacturing. The fixture includes a holder establishing a reference position within a second plane parallel with the first plane, and a pin retained by the holder for movement relative thereto in the second plane within a range of coarse alignment about the reference position. The pin and holder are movable together normal to the second plane to engage the pin with the locating feature. A fixing element is movable, when the pin is engaged with the feature, to urge the pin to the reference position.

Provided is a structural body, formed in a plate-like shape and positioned with respect to an assembly jig including a positioning pin and supporting a first surface of the structural body, including a positioning hole formed through an end portion, a positioning protrusion being inserted into the positioning hole; and a pair of first position detection areas formed on a second surface of the end portion through which the positioning hole is formed. The positioning hole is formed apart from an axis line connecting the pair of first position detection areas.

A portable adjustable conveyor for use with a power tool for cutting a work piece. The portable adjustable conveyor has a one piece frame formed from a base plate integrally connected to first and second guide plates. Each guide plate has first, second and third groups of vertically aligned alignment holes oriented on a diagonal configuration to each other and spaced centrally in each guide plate. A removable roller engages between pairs of vertically aligned alignment holes in a first, second or third group of offset holes. The portable conveyer enables the power tool to process a work piece and reposition the work piece in less than 90 seconds repeatedly using different pairs of longitudinally aligned alignment holes with the removable roller as well as reduce static in the work place and increase lumens to the workpieces, all simultaneously.

A tooling base that is an improvement over current designs in the form of simplified number of parts and easier manufacturing of parts is described. The tooling base uses alignment fixtures on threaded rods that are restricted in their movement within the tooling base by stops. The stops are located either on the threaded shafts or on the alignment fixtures. This allowed degree of movement enables simplified part design and manufacture while maintaining the precision and accuracy of registration of a tooling fixture with the tooling base.

A robot system of the present invention has a disturbance torque monitoring part which monitors a disturbance torque of a servo motor which drives rotation about a joint of the robot in accordance with an operating command of a robot operation control part. Further, when a work gripped by the hand is fastened by a work fasting device, the abnormality judging part compares the disturbance torque with a predetermined first threshold value and, when the disturbance torque is over the first threshold value, judges that an abnormality has occurred in the position of the work fastened by the work fastening device.