Robot-controlled modular rotary table assembly and modular rotary headstock positioner assembly

An interchangeable rotary headstock positioner system comprising:

• a first rotary headstock positioner assembly for rotatably supporting a workpiece, the first rotary headstock positioner assembly including:
• a first headstock positioner having at least a first support for supporting the workpiece off the ground, the first support having a first axis of
• rotation in a first plane at least substantially parallel to the ground,
• a first gearbox fixedly connected to the first headstock positioner for precisely rotating the first support, and
• a first support frame for supporting the first headstock positioner, the first
• support frame having a first support surface spaced apart from the first
• axis of rotation of the first support at a first precise, predetermined
• distance, the first support surface positioned in a second plane at least substantially parallel to the first plane and spaced apart from the first plane at a second precise, predetermined distance;
• a second rotary headstock positioner assembly for rotatably supporting a workpiece, the second rotary headstock positioner assembly including:
• a second headstock positioner having at least a second support for supporting the workpiece off the ground, the second support having a second axis of rotation in a third plane at least substantially parallel to the ground,
• a second gearbox fixedly connected to the second headstock positioner for precisely rotating the second support, and
• a second support frame for supporting the second headstock positioner, the second support frame having a second support surface spaced apart from the second axis of rotation of the second support at the first precise, predetermined distance, the second support surface positioned in a fourth plane at least substantially parallel to the second plane and spaced apart from the second plane at the second precise, predetermined distance;
• and
• a robotic device interchangeably couplable with the first rotary headstock positioner assembly and the second rotary headstock positioner assembly at the first support surface and the second support surface, respectively, the robotic device having control programming configured to cause the robotic device to perform operations upon a workpiece according to a program of instructions, the operations based upon the first precise, predetermined distance and the second, precise predetermined distance.

A rotary headstock positioner assembly for rotatably supporting a workpiece, the rotary headstock positioner assembly comprising:

• a headstock positioner having at least one support for supporting a workpiece off the ground, the at least one support having an axis of rotation in a first plane at least substantially parallel to the ground;
• a tailstock positioner disposed opposite the headstock positioner and supported by the support frame;
• a gearbox fixedly connected to the headstock positioner for precisely rotating the at least one support;
• and
• a support frame for supporting the headstock positioner, the support frame having a support surface spaced apart from the axis of rotation of the at least one support at a first precise, predetermined distance, the support surface positioned in a second plane at least substantially parallel to the first plane and spaced apart from the first plane at a second precise, predetermined distance.