Assembly and joining table with weld splatter protection features, systems and methods for automated operations of the same

A system for automated assembly and joining using a table with weld splatter protection features, said system comprising:

• the table comprising:
• a platform providing a work surface;
• a plurality of holders positioned about the work surface, each comprising a first portion and a second portion, each of said first and second portions comprising:
• a conductive surface;
• an electrically insulated portion located behind the conductive surface;
• a slot located below the conductive surface;
• and
• a recessed channel extending from a location proximate the conductive surface about the slot to a location below the conductive surface;
• wiring extending within the recessed channel from an electrical ground to the conductive surface;
• a first set of motorized devices, each of which is associated with a respective one of the holders for moving the respective one of the holders in at least two dimensions when operated, including movement of the conductive surfaces of the first and second portions of each of the holders relative to one another;
• and
• a second set of motorized devices, each of which is configured to move the work surface in at least two dimensions when operated;
• a machine vision subsystem;
• and
• a controller in electronic communication with the machine vision subsystem and the motorized devices, said controller comprising software instructions, which when executed, configure the controller to receive data from the machine vision subsystem and operate the motorized devices based, at least in part, on the data received from the machine visions subsystem.

An assembly and joining table with weld splatter protection features, said table comprising:

• a platform providing a work surface;
• and
• a plurality of holders positioned about the platform, each configured to receive a portion of a part for joining, and each comprising:
• one or more conductive surfaces;
• and
• one or more recessed channels configured to receive wiring, each channel having a first end located adjacent to a respective one of said one or more conductive surfaces, a second end located below the respective one of said one or more conductive surfaces, and a continuous passageway with a plurality of turns located between the first end and the second end;
• and
• a first and second member extending longitudinally in a first direction and a third, fourth, fifth, and sixth member, each intersecting one of said first and second members, wherein:
• said third, fourth, fifth, and sixth members extend away from, and outside of, said first and second members;
• said third, fourth, fifth, and sixth members have a lengthwise dimension which is shorter than a lengthwise dimension of the first and second members;
• at least one of the holders is located at each of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth members;
• and
• the holders located at the first and second members are oriented differently from the holders located at the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth members.