Abstract: A method of wafer handling includes providing a wafer on a wafer carrier on a wafer chuck on a vacuum plate. The wafer carrier includes a permanent magnet. The wafer chuck includes an electromagnet. The wafer is raised against a gravity direction by flowing an electrical current through the electromagnet so that the wafer carrier is repelled from the wafer chuck while the wafer remains on the wafer carrier. While keeping the wafer raised, wafer alignment is adjusted by moving the wafer chuck, the wafer carrier or both. The electrical current is reduced to zero so that the wafer carrier contacts the wafer chuck. The wafer is connected to the vacuum plate via a first vacuum cavity of the wafer chuck and a third vacuum cavity of the wafer carrier. The wafer carrier is connected to the vacuum plate via the second vacuum cavity of the wafer chuck.

Abstract: A clamper actuation mechanism contains: a fixed clamper, a drive handle, and a movable clamper. The fixed clamper includes a fixed defining sheet, two first pieces, two elongated slots, two first locating orifices, and two second locating orifices. The drive handle includes a press extension, a third locating orifice, a fourth locating orifice, and a first stem. The movable clamper includes a movable defining sheet and two second pieces. Two fifth locating orifices are formed on the two first pieces, two limiting grooves are defined on the movable clamper, and a second stem is inserted through the two fifth locating orifices and the two elongated slots to rotatably connect the movable clamper and the fixed clamper. A control bar is inserted through the two limiting grooves, the two second locating orifices and the fourth locating orifice to rotatably connect the movable clamper, the drive handle, and the fixed clamper.

Abstract: A method of operation is provided during which a tool is arranged with a surface of a component. The tool includes a roller contacting the surface. A rolling operation is performed on the surface using the roller. A vibration operation is performed on the surface through the roller concurrently with the performing of the rolling operation.

Abstract: A platform has a support surface for a mechanical component and is provided with at least two locking seats. The locking seats coaxially receive respective locking pins which are fixed to a mechanical component and are provided with respective circumferential grooves adapted to be restrainedly engaged by retention elements associated with the platform. The retention elements comprise a rotary retention element that can rotate about an axis of rotation which is perpendicular to the support surface for rotating between a releasing position and a locking position upon control of actuation elements, and is provided with a peripheral edge which, at each of the locking seats, has a contoured surface so as to restrainedly engage the grooves when the rotary retention element is in the locking position, and disengage the grooves when the rotary retention element is in the releasing position.

Abstract: Systems and methods are directed toward clamping assemblies that can be used to at least temporarily secure an object to a surfacer in a non-parallel arrangement. In at least one embodiment, a gimbal knob can be used that includes a gimbal joint able to receive a connecting bolt over a range of angles with respect to an axis of rotation of the gimbal knob. As the gimbal knob is rotated, the gimbal joint can pivot to receive the connecting bolt, and the connecting bolt can be pulled into a threaded receptacle of the gimbal joint. The gimbal knob can use a number of bearings to allow for pivoting of the threaded receptacle as necessary. Multiple gimbal knobs can be used to secure an object to a curved, irregular, or non-planar surface or other object.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing integrally forged bike suspension forks is provided. First initially forming a crown prototype by forging of an aluminum ingot. The crown prototype includes two lateral shoulders and a solid protuberant base. By deep drawing, the solid protuberant base and the lateral shoulders are respectively drawn and extended to form a front fork section and suspension tube sections. By milling, a top surface of each of the lateral shoulders is milled to communicate with the suspension tube section. Thereby an integrally-forged suspension fork is obtained. Therefore, the aluminum ingot is processed to obtain the integrally formed suspension front fork with the suspension tube sections and the front fork section. The suspension front fork is having high strength and shock resistance under impact of an external force applied to a front wheel of the bike.

Abstract: A mount for a firearm assembly, the mount being configured to be secured in another support mechanism, such as a vise. The mount comprising a bottom support member, a front piece having a front buffer tube receiving portion held by the bottom support member, and a back piece spaced apart from the front piece and having a back buffer tube receiving portion held by the bottom support member. The front piece is at the front end and the back piece is at but spaced apart from the back end. A space between the sides of the bottom support member at the back end is adapted to receive a firearm rear pistol grip adapter.

Abstract: A positioning device for assembling a power tool holder housing and a use method of the positioning device, includes the power tool holder housing, a positioning table and elastic key blocks A; a lower cross keyway is formed in the bottom surface of the power tool holder housing, an upper cross keyway is formed in the upper surface of the positioning table; the lower cross keyway and the upper cross keyway are disposed in up-down correspondence; the elastic key blocks A are respectively mounted in corresponding keyways in four directions; an elongated circular notch is formed in the upper portion of a side surface of the elastic key block body A in the length direction of the elastic key block body, a cylindrical pin is disposed in the elongated circular notch, an opening of the elongated circular notch is located in the lower cross keyway.

Abstract: A clamp is provided, said clamp comprising a clamp bar, a fixed jaw which is located at the clamp bar, a counter jaw relative to which the clamp bar is displaceable, an advancement apparatus on which the clamp bar is displaceably supported and to which the counter jaw is connected in translationally fixed relation, an actuating device which is arranged at the advancement apparatus and by way of which displacement of the clamp bar in an advance direction is actuatable, and a blocking apparatus by way of which displacement of the clamp bar in a counter direction to the advance direction can be blocked, wherein the actuating device is rotatable relative to the clamp bar and is rotatable relative to the blocking apparatus, and wherein the blocking apparatus is rotationally fixed relative to the clamp bar.

Abstract: Disclosed is a substrate displacing assembly so as to improve its durability during a semiconductor processing. In one embodiment, a semiconductor manufacturing system, includes, a substrate holder, wherein the substrate holder is configured with a plurality of pins; and a substrate displacing assembly for displacing a substrate on the substrate holder in a first direction perpendicular to the top surface of the substrate holder through the plurality of pins, wherein the substrate displacing assembly comprises a pair of load forks, a coupler and a driving shaft, wherein the pair of load forks comprises a fork region and a base region, wherein the coupler is mechanically coupled to the base region through at least one first joining screw extending in the first direction, wherein the coupler is further mechanically coupled to the driving shaft through a second joining screw extending in the first direction.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a sole with a metal support plate or a composite support plate includes an integrally molding process or a bonding process, in the integrally molding process, the metal support plate or the composite support plate is placed into an injection mold, a sole feed liquid is injected into the injection mold which is bonded in contact with the metal support plate or the composite support plate to mold the sole, the metal support plate or the composite support plate is located between a midsole of a sole body and an outsole of the sole body or above the midsole of the sole body; and in the bonding process, the metal support plate or the composite support plate is adhesively bonded between the midsole of the sole body and the outsole of the sole body or above the midsole by an adhesive coating method.

Abstract: Embodiments of golf club heads, golf clubs, and methods to manufacture golf club heads and golf clubs are generally described herein. In one example, a face portion of a golf club head includes a perimeter portion, a maximum face portion thickness, a minimum face portion thickness, a first quadrant in an upper toe-side portion comprising a first region including the maximum face portion thickness, a second quadrant in an upper heel-side portion comprising a second region, a third quadrant in a lower heel-side portion comprising a third region, and a fourth quadrant in a lower toe-side portion comprising a fourth region including the maximum face portion thickness. The perimeter portion thickness is greater than the minimum face portion thickness. The first region and the fourth region have different shapes. Other examples and embodiments may be described and claimed.

Abstract: A clamp assembly for securing a solar panel module includes a base that secures to an attachment of a solar module mounting system. The base is connected to a clamp component through a vertical component that enables vertical adjustment of the clamp component relative to the base. The clamp component includes a bottom clamp and a top clamp that connect through a threaded connector and a spring to enable adjustment of a thickness to accommodate a range of solar panel modules. The top clamp further includes a connection interface for receiving a trim component that moves with positioning of the top clamp relative to the bottom clamp and the base.

Abstract: A system for positioning a product along an assembly line including: a motor having a brake and an output shaft in cooperation with a platform by way of a linkage, rotation of the output shaft in a first direction rotates the linkage to an upper position to raise the platform and rotation of the output shaft in a second direction rotates the linkage to a lower position to lower the platform, the brake is configured to stop movement of the output shaft; a sensor configured to identify movement of the linkage between the lower position and the upper position; and a controller configured to receive inputs from the sensor, measure a cycle time of each one of a plurality of movement cycles of the linkage between the lower position and the upper position based on the inputs, and identify cycle times that are progressively decreasing or increasing.

Abstract: Provided is an article transfer apparatus and article transfer method capable of autonomously loading or unloading an article by accurately checking a correct position in an article storage without a teaching process, the article transfer apparatus including a carriage body travelling along travel rails to transfer an article, and a position detection device mounted in the carriage body to detect position information related to a correct position from a detection target mounted in an article storage capable of storing the article in order to place the article at the correct position in the article storage where the article is to be stored.

Abstract: A substrate support assembly including a shaft and a susceptor disposed on the shaft. The susceptor is configured to support a substrate in a processing chamber during a substrate processing operation. The substrate support assembly comprises cooling features configured to cool the susceptor at a cooling rate of greater than 2 degrees Celsius per minute subsequent to the substrate processing operation.

Abstract: A pipe fitting stand includes a central support post, a fixed support structure disposed on the central support post, a sliding support structure disposed on the central support post, a telescoping post extending at least partially into the central support post, a cradle engaged with the telescoping post that is configured to support a portion of a pipe, at least three legs extending from the fixed support structure, and a leg support extending between each of the at least three legs and the sliding support structure, wherein as the sliding support structure is moved along the central support post in a first direction, the at least three legs are drawn inward to a folded state and as the sliding support structure is moved in a second direction the at least three legs splay outward to a deployed state.

Abstract: With smaller gauge catheters, forming distal tip structures, termed “tipping,” can be increasingly challenging. The thin wall-thicknesses of these small gauge catheters provide a reduced cross-sectional surface area with which to couple the distal tip structure to. This increases the risk of failure of the device either during manufacture or during use. To address the foregoing, embodiments include forming and placing a spiral plug within a lumen of a proximal section of the catheter. The spiral plug co-operates with the catheter to provide an increased wall thickness and an increased cross-sectional surface area with which to couple a distal tip structure thereto. Further the spiral plug can align the lumen of the catheter body with a lumen of the distal tip structure. The spiral plug can be sacrificial and provide increased material across the joint, mitigating joint failure.

Abstract: An apparatus for securing a semiconductor wafer portion (SWP) comprises: a first rotatable structure (RS) configured to perform a first rotation and a first counterrotation about a first axis; a second RS configured to perform a second rotation and a second counterrotation about a second axis; a first set of one or more adjustable adhesive regions (AARs) located on the first RS and in contact with the SWP, where each AAR in the first set of AARs is configured to increase its adhesion to the SWP during the first rotation and to decrease its adhesion during the first counterrotation; and a second set of one or more AARs located on the second RS and in contact with the SWP, where each AAR in the second set of AARs is configured to increase its adhesion to the SWP during the second rotation and decrease its adhesion during the second counterrotation.

Abstract: A robot end of arm tool (EOAT) and installation process for the proper orientation, mounting, and installation of gaskets such as, but not limited to, water-tight and soil-tight gaskets onto work pieces, such as molded pipes is provided. The gasket installation process may comprise multiple stations including a pipe loading station, pipe cutting and deburring station, gasket retrieval station, gasket stretching and alignment station, mounting station, film application station, and barcode placement substation. The pipe moves sequentially through each station to produce a pipe with one or more of gaskets, films, and/or barcodes placed thereon.