Abstract: An assembly and joining table with weld splatter protection features are disclosed along with systems and methods for operating the same in at least partially automated fashion. The table includes holders positioned about platform providing a work surface. Parts are placed within certain of the holders for joining to create an assembly. The holders include conductive surfaces and recessed channels for wiring. A first end of each channel is located adjacent to a respective conductive surface, a second end is located below the respective conductive surface, and a continuous passageway with a plurality of turns extends between the first and second ends. A controller may operate motors of the table and command operations of robots for material handling and/or joining and a machine vision system to adjustably automate assembly.

Abstract: An assembly and joining table, such as with weld splatter protection features, are disclosed along with systems and methods for operating the same in at least partially automated fashion. The table includes holders positioned about platform providing a work surface. Parts are placed within at least certain of the holders for joining to create an assembly. The holders include conductive surfaces and may include a sinuous recessed channels for wiring connecting the conductive surfaces to an electrical ground. A controller may operate motors of the table and command operations of robots for material handling and/or joining, such as based on data from a machine vision system viewing the table.

Abstract: A method is presented for positioning a workpiece in a workstation. The method includes: transporting a workpiece into a workstation using an automatic guided vehicle, where the workpiece is supported by a workpiece fixture and the workpiece fixture is supported by the automatic guided vehicle; measuring spatial position of the workpiece fixture; removing the workpiece fixture from the automatic guided vehicle using one or more adjustable locators mounted on a frame of the workstation; calculating an adjustment to position of the workpiece fixture between the measured spatial position of the workpiece fixture and a nominal work position; moving the workpiece fixture suing the one or more adjustable locators to the nominal work position according to calculated adjustment; performing an operation on the workpiece while the workpiece fixture remains in the nominal work position; and returning the workpiece fixture to the automatic guided vehicle.

Abstract: A workpiece having at least one physical feature is placed into a workstation fixture having at least one adjustable locator. Measurement data reflecting the position of the at least one physical feature of the workpiece and measurement data reflecting the position of the at least one adjustable locator are obtained. A processor ingests and utilizes the collection of assembly data and the measurement data to define and store in memory at least one ordered pair correlating the physical feature and the adjustable locator. The processor defines a test vector that connects the position of the at least one physical feature and the position of the at least one adjustable locator. The processor to computationally discovers a best fit for adjusting the position of the adjustable locator to register with the physical feature by applying to the test vector a computational optimization process that seeks to minimize the length of the test vector to thereby generate a digital shim vector.

Abstract: A workpiece having at least one physical feature is placed into a workstation fixture having at least one adjustable locator. Measurement data reflecting the position of the at least one physical feature of the workpiece and measurement data reflecting the position of the at least one adjustable locator are obtained. A processor ingests and utilizes the collection of assembly data and the measurement data to define and store in memory at least one ordered pair correlating the physical feature and the adjustable locator. The processor defines a test vector that connects the position of the at least one physical feature and the position of the at least one adjustable locator. The processor to computationally discovers a best fit for adjusting the position of the adjustable locator to register with the physical feature by applying to the test vector a computational optimization process that seeks to minimize the length of the test vector to thereby generate a digital shim vector.

Abstract: Workpieces are placed in the workstation so one is in registration with a fixed locator. Measurement data are obtained reflecting the positions of the respective features of the workpieces and represented in a common reference frame associated with the fixed locator. A processor uses the collection of assembly data and the measurement data to define and store ordered pairs of mating feature locations. The pairs are then reoriented using a computationally discovered best fit. The position of a feature demarked for registration with the adjustable locator is calculated and the adjustable locator is caused to move to the calculated position of the feature demarked for registration thereby establishing a best fit orientation of the mating workpieces in physical space. The mating workpieces are then positioned in said best fit orientation by registration with said fixed and adjustable locators and then mechanically joining the mating workpieces.