A rim drilling and milling machine has a base (10), a column (20), a turret (30), a saddle (40), a table (50), and a fixture unit (60). The fixture unit (60) has a foundation (61) and four clamping seats defined as two first clamping seats (63A) and two second clamping seats (63B). The first clamping seats (63A) are slidably mounted on the foundation (61) along a first radial direction, and are disposed at positions diametrically opposite in the first radial direction. The second clamping seats (63B) are slidably mounted on the foundation (61) along a second radial direction perpendicular to the first radial direction, and are disposed at positions diametrically opposite in the second radial direction. The four clamping seats can clamp at four equiangular points of a wheel rim.

An adapter converts a three-axis milling machine to a five-axis milling machine includes two gimbal assemblies. A first gimbal assembly is configured to rotate about a first rotation axis. A second gimbal assembly is rotatably connected to the first gimbal assembly to rotate about a second rotation axis orthogonal to the first rotation axis. A first gimbal positioning system is operable to rotate the first gimbal assembly about the first rotation axis with a rotational movement of a first leadscrew positioned in a first plane orthogonal to the first rotation axis. A second gimbal positioning system is operable to rotate the second gimbal assembly about the second rotation axis with a rotational movement of the second leadscrew positioned in a second plane orthogonal to the second rotation axis. The second gimbal assembly includes a spindle and a motor coupled to the spindle to selectively rotate the spindle.

An automated apparatus for use in selectively installing temporary fasteners in an assembly is provided. The apparatus includes an end effector, a cutting mechanism coupled to the end effector and that forms an opening in the assembly when a potential opening location is substantially aligned with a cutting mechanism center point. The apparatus also includes at least one of a first sub-assembly and a second sub-assembly coupled to the end effector. The first sub-assembly includes a temporary fastener insertion mechanism that inserts a temporary fastener through the opening in the assembly when the opening is substantially aligned with an insertion mechanism center point different from the cutting mechanism center point. The second sub-assembly includes a temporary fastener removal mechanism that removes installed temporary fasteners from the assembly when the installed temporary fastener is substantially aligned with a removal mechanism center point different from the cutting mechanism center point.