Abstract: A method of riveting comprising providing a rivet having a head and a shank depending downwardly therefrom, the shank terminating in a tip and being hollow so as to define a rivet interior, receiving an insert at least partially within the rivet interior, placing the rivet and insert on the opposite side of a workpiece from a die, driving the rivet and the insert towards the die and into the workpiece under the action of a force using a punch along a central axis, and reacting the force using the die so as to cause the rivet to flare outwardly and interlock the workpiece.

Abstract: Disclosed herein in a system for positioning a sub-assembly for installation. The system comprises a tool comprising a base and a sub-assembly support. The sub-assembly support is positioned above the base and pivotably mounted to the base at a pivot axis. The tool is positioned adjacent to an interior surface of an assembling body and configured to support a sub-assembly. The system also comprises at least one actuator that is selectively operable to tilt a first surface of the sub-assembly support toward an opening in the assembling body and adjust an angle of the sub-assembly support, relative to the base. The system further comprises an interior conforming device attached to the tool and configured to interface with the interior surface of the assembling body. The system additionally comprises an exterior conforming device configured to interface with the exterior surface of the assembling body.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a vehicle headliner. In one example, a method for forming the headliner includes forming a recess and an opening for a support structure in a base substrate layer of the headliner during heat treatment of the base substrate layer. The method further includes inserting the support structure in the recess and the opening and covering the base substrate layer with a skin. A positioning of the support structure within the base substrate layer allows an outline of the support structure to be undetectable through the skin by sight or touch.

Abstract: A paintless dent repair kit includes a housing with a handle extending therefrom and a toothed wheel rotatably retained in the housing. The toothed wheel has a plurality of teeth extending outwards therefrom and is configured to receive, replace, and removably retain any one of a plurality of sockets fixedly attached to one of several dent removal tool tips. The housing features a first button connected to a teethed lever slidably positioned to be either engaged or disengaged with the plurality of teeth of the toothed wheel depending on the position of the first button. Unless the first button is depressed, the dent removal tool is configured to securely and fixedly retain the dent removal tip to facilitate direct transmission of force and torque from the handle to the dent removal tip during dent removal operations. The housing further features a second button attached to a release pin slidably positioned inside the toothed wheel.

Abstract: Process for programming an orthodontic component from a shape memory material starting from an initial shape of the orthodontic component into a target shape to be programmed of the orthodontic component, wherein the target shape compared to the initial shape at least sectionally has a severe bending, the process comprising the following steps: a. providing an orthodontic component (1) of a shape memory material in an initial shape, b. creating a target baking mold for the orthodontic component (1), c. inserting the orthodontic component (1) into the target baking mold, and d. baking the orthodontic component (1) in the target baking mold in order to program it into the target shape, characterized by the following steps after step a) e. creating at least one intermediate baking mold for the orthodontic component (1), in which intermediate baking mold the orthodontic component (1) has an intermediate shape between the initial shape and the target shape, f.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for assembly line processing of aircraft wing panels. The method includes inputting wing panels into an assembly line, the assembly line having a number of work stations, the wing panels oriented such that leading edges are all on a first side of the work stations, and trailing edges are all on a second side of the work stations, and advancing the wing panels in a process direction through the number of work stations, at least a first portion of the work stations dedicated to wing panel leading edge processing, and a second portion of the work stations dedicated to wing panel trailing edge processing.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for shaping flat charges. One embodiment is a forming system for shaping a flat charge. The forming system includes female dies that are elongate and are configured to hold the flat charge, and a male die that is elongate and is configured to press into the flat charge between the female dies to form the flat charge while the flat charge is supported, the male die includes notches that extend along a length of the male die and are dimensioned to retain gap fillers of the flat charge at widthwise locations of the flat charge corresponding to corners at the female dies while the flat charge is formed.

Abstract: A method of printing a three-dimensional object. The method comprises: supplying a print material that is electrically conductive to a plurality of ejector conduits arranged in an array, the ejector conduits comprising first ends configured to accept the print material and second ends comprising an ejector nozzle; advancing the print material in one or more of the ejector conduits of the array until the print material is disposed within the ejector nozzle of the one or more ejector conduits; providing a flux region in the print material disposed within the ejector nozzle; flowing electrical current through the print material in the flux region to thereby generate a Lorentz force on the print material and eject at least a portion of the print material from the ejector nozzle onto a print substrate; and repeating both the advancing of the print material and the flowing electrical current through the flux region to form a three-dimensional object on the print substrate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for deconstructing a mattress of the type having steel coil springs held within fabric pockets. The apparatus includes a frame and an opener mechanism mounted to the frame and operable for opening a plurality of fabric pockets at a first end thereof to create an opening in the first end of the fabric pockets and expose the steel coil springs contained therewithin. A gripper mechanism is provided for gripping the plurality of fabric pockets at a second end thereof, opposite the first end. An extractor mechanism is mounted to the frame for extracting the steel coil springs from the fabric pockets through the openings formed in the first end of the fabric pockets.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically joining a cut blank has a mandrel and clamps to conform the cut blank to the mandrel. The clamps include band clamps and pad clamps that pivot about axes that are obliquely angled with respect to the centerline of the mandrel. The clamp axes on one side of the centerline are a mirror image to the clamp axes on the other side. The cut blank has a line of symmetry and is clamped to the centerline of the mandrel with a locator bar. The clamps are then moved to a clamped position. In the clamped position, one edge of the cut blank meets another edge, and a robotic welder joins the edges.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a multi-sided or otherwise relatively three-dimensional formed structure for, e.g., an aerospace vehicle. A relatively planar base structure is constructed using a first construction technique. Features (e.g., ribs) are incorporated into the base structure using a second construction technique (e.g., additive or subtractive manufacturing) to create an intermediate structure. The intermediate structure is folded along fold-lines or otherwise physically formed to create the formed structure, such that some of the features are located within an internal space defined by the formed structure. Joints between the sides of the formed structure are welded, fastened, or otherwise secured. Separately constructed additional elements (e.g., bulkheads) may be incorporated into the structure. A closeout element may be added to the formed structure to further define and close the internal space. Throughout the process, the structures, features, and elements may be refined to desired tolerances.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus are provided for assembling a wing. Methods include coupling a robot arm to a bracket on a rib held against a wing panel, and operating the coupled robot arm to install shims between the rib and wing panel. Some methods further include mounting (e.g. detachably) the bracket, such as by aligning it with indexing features at the rib. In some methods, the bracket enforces a contour to the rib. Systems include a carriage coupled to a rib, and a robot arm extending therefrom that is operable to perform work (e.g. inspection, installing shims and/or fasteners, etc.) at an interface between the rib and a wing panel. Apparatus includes a robot arm dimensioned for placement at an interface between a rib and a wing panel, with the robot arm including an end effector to perform work upon the interface (e.g. inspection, installing shims and/or fasteners, etc.).

Abstract: A pen needle assembly apparatus includes a housing (30), a movable gripping assembly (32) for gripping a pen needle assembly (18), and an actuator (108). The housing (30) has a top end (34), a bottom end (36), and an inner cavity (38) for storing used pen needle assemblies. The gripping assembly (32) in one embodiment includes two movable jaws (58) that are movable to engage and grip the outer cover (22) of the pen needle assembly (18) so that the needle hub (16) can be separated from the outer cover (22) and placed back in the outer cover (22) after use of the pen needle. The actuator (108) is connected to the jaws (58) where movement of the actuator separates the jaws to release the outer cover of the pen needle assembly. The housing (30) has an opening 160) for engaging the inner shield (24) of the pen needle assembly to remove the inner shield (24) from the needle hub (16).

Abstract: A novel dent-puller assisting apparatus, system, and method are disclosed herein. The invention provides a stable anchor point for the attachment of a variety of mechanisms to be used in the process of straightening or repair of car body panels. The invention is designed to require a minimum number of parts and connections, be easy to install and operate, and have sufficient flexibility to accomplish the required ends.

Abstract: A fixture and a method of operating the fixture are disclosed for repositioning a workpiece disposed on the fixture to correct an offset between the centerline of the workpiece and an indexing position on the fixture. The fixture includes one or more linear actuators that linearly move vacuum grippers on their outboard ends into contact with surfaces of the workpiece. Vacuum is applied to the vacuum grippers, which enables the vacuum grippers to grip the surfaces of the workpiece. The linear actuators are driven to reposition the workpiece on the fixture to reduce the offset between the two below a threshold value. When in position, the fixture secures the workpiece in place for subsequent machining operations that may be performed on the workpiece.

Abstract: Disclosed are a rolled (FeCoNiCrRn/Al)-2024Al composite panel and a preparation method therefor. The preparation method involves taking pure aluminum as a matrix, adding an FeCoNiCrRn medium-entropy alloy with a high strength and toughness as an reinforcing phase to prepare an FeCoNiCrRn/Al composite material, then laminating the FeCoNiCrRn/Al composite material with aluminum alloy 2024, and preparing the (FeCoNiCrRn/Al)-2024Al composite board by means of hot-rolling recombination, which solves the problem that high-strength aluminum matrix composites (AMCs) are prone to instantaneous breakability and low ductility, thereby improving the overall performance of the material. The present disclosure adopts microwave sintering (MWS) to fabricate a medium-entropy alloy-reinforced AMC, and adopts hot-roll bonding to fabricate the (FeCoNiCrRn/Al)-2024Al metal composite panel.

Abstract: An example method of correcting a defect in a seat comprises the steps of: (a) imaging a seat to obtain an image of the seat, a portion of the seat having a defect; (b) applying a localized boundary around the portion of the seat having the defect within the image of the seat; (c) translating the localized boundary into a seat specific map of a baseline model of the seat such that a portion of the baseline model of the seat that corresponds to the portion of the seat having the defect within the image of the seat is disposed within a translated localized boundary; (d) selecting a predetermined path for an automated device to correct the portion of the seat having the defect based on the portion of the baseline model of the seat; and (e) correcting the portion of the seat having the defect.

Abstract: A system for machining and positioning an automobile hub and a production line for intelligent cleaning and precision, including upper and lower mounting plates connected vertically. At least three U-shaped blocks are fixed on a top surface of the upper plate. An L-shaped support is mounted between every two blocks, including a screw-equipped ball head disposed thereon. The support is driven by a first driving apparatus to move along the upper mounting plate. A slidable chuck is disposed in each block, with a push rod assembly connected to the bottom. The assembly is driven by a second driving apparatus to move along the upper mounting plate with the chuck. Three wedges are circumferentially fixed on a top surface of the lower plate and are driven by a third driving apparatus to move along the lower plate. Inclined surfaces of the wedges are mated with bottoms of the push rod assemblies.

Abstract: A design method of a metal mask, a manufacturing method of the metal mask and a computer-readable storage medium are provided. The design method of a metal mask includes: calculating amounts of deformations of the metal mask in two directions perpendicular to each other based on a stretching force of the metal mask in use and deformation properties of the metal mask in the two directions; and compensating the deformations of the metal mask in the two directions by compensation amounts for the deformations, which are identical and opposite to the amounts of the deformations of the metal mask in the two directions, respectively.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for surface densification of powder metal annular preforms is described. A forming tool has external helical teeth corresponding to internal helical teeth of the preform. A die correspondingly configured to the external splines of the preform circumferentially surrounds the forming tool. The forming tool, die and lower punch(es) collectively define an aperture dimensioned to receive the preform. Upper punch(es) encase the preform in the aperture. Surface densification of the internal surface of the preform is achieved by movement of the preform axially over the forming tool. External splines of the preform and corresponding die splines direct the preform axially while internal helical teeth and corresponding forming teeth direct the forming tool to rotate as the preform moves. The forming teeth have varying dimensions in the circumferential and radial directions to apply compression and relaxation to densify the surface of the preform helical teeth.