Abstract: A system and method for self-piercing riveting including an alignment mechanism comprising laser diodes and sensors for facilitating alignment of a rivet gun and a back-up located on opposite sides of sheet metal parts to be joined, and an oscillation piercing technique for reducing force loads on structures, particularly robotic structures, carrying the rivet gun and the back-up.

Abstract: A fixture device generally includes a base member, a reconfigurable pad disposed on the base member, wherein the reconfigurable pad comprises a shape memory material configured to selectively conform to a surface contour of a workpiece, and an activation device in operative communication with the shape memory material.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a programmable shim 28 for positioning a work piece 12 comprising a first plate 30; an optional reference frame 32; and an actuator 34 in operative communication with the first plate 30 and the reference frame 32. Disclosed herein too is a method of aligning a work piece 12 comprising disposing the work piece 12 upon a first plate 30 of a programmable shim 28; activating an actuator 34 with an external stimulus; wherein the actuator 34 is in operative communication with the first plate 30; and displacing the work piece 12.

Abstract: A tube bending apparatus adapted for the noncircular bending of a tube includes a modified bend die, a modified wiper die, a translatable and pivotable element and an actuator. The bend die presents a noncircular bending profile having a linearly or nonlinearly increasing radius of curvature. The wiper die is configured to accommodate the maximum radius presented by the profile, and the element and actuator present an inclined rack and pinion configuration. The bend die presents an involute of a circle having a radius equal to the product of the radius of the pinion and the sine of the angle of inclination, so that the bend die engages the tube at a fixed point in space during bending.