Systems and methods for part alignment
AssigneeBlue Origin Manufacturing, LLC
InventorJonathan Michael Todd Roberts
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An alignment system and method for a machined part that includes bottom support having a first mating surface and a top support having a second mating surface configured to engage the first mating surface. Movement of the top support relative to the bottom support may be driven by a support driving system. Movement of the top support may be used to change a rotational and/or an angular orientation of an upper surface of the top support from a first orientation to a second orientation.
Claims20
A mounting and alignment system for a manufactured part, comprising:
- a mounting portion, comprising:
- a concave top surface;
- a curved sidewall forming at least a portion of the concave top surface;
- a base forming at least a portion of the concave top surface, the base being coupled to the curved sidewall at a transition;
- and
- an adjusting portion, comprising:
- a convex bottom surface;
- a curved mating surface forming at least a portion of the convex bottom surface;
- and
- a mounting surface, opposite the bottom surface;
- and
- an adjustment system configured to drive movement of the adjusting portion relative to the mounting portion to change an angular orientation of the mounting surface of the adjusting portion, wherein the curved mating surface is configured to mate with the curved sidewall and to move along the curved sidewall responsive to a force from the adjustment system.
An alignment system, comprising:
- a bottom support having a first mating surface;
- a top support having a second mating surface configured to engage the first mating surface;
- and
- a support driving system configured to move the top support relative to the bottom support, wherein movement of the top support is configured to change an angular orientation of an upper surface of the top support from a first orientation to a second orientation.
A method to adjust a surface orientation, comprising:
- determining a current surface orientation is different from a desired surface orientation;
- determining an adjustment to an adjusting portion, relative to a mating portion, to transition from the current surface orientation to the desired surface orientation;
- applying the adjustment to the adjusting portion;
- determining an adjusted surface orientation is within a threshold amount of the desired surface orientation;
- and
- securing the adjusting portion to the mating portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.