Method for positioning tooling

A method of positioning tooling with respect to a curvilinear workpiece having a longitudinal axis, said workpiece being curved in a first direction extending along a plane substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis and being curved in a second direction extending along a plane substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis, the degree of curvature in said first direction being greater than the degree of curvature in said second direction, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) providing carriage means movable along a supporting surface in spaced relation to said workpiece and in a direction substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis;
• b) providing arm means having one end on said carriage means and extending from said carriage means toward said workpiece;
• c) providing head means containing said tooling and located on another end of said arm means;
• d) moving said head means toward and away from said workpiece for positioning said tooling in close proximity to said workpiece;
• and
• e) moving said arm means along said first direction about its curvature axis so as to move said tooling about said workpiece.

A method of positioning tooling with respect to a curvilinear workpiece having a longitudinal axis, said workpiece being curved in a first direction extending along a plane substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis and being curved in a second direction extending along a plane substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis, the degree of curvature in said first direction being greater than the degree of curvature in said second direction, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) providing carriage means movable along a supporting surface in spaced relation to said workpiece and in a direction substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis;
• b) providing arm means having one end on said carriage means and extending from said carriage means toward said workpiece;
• c) providing head means containing said tooling and located on another end of said arm means;
• d) moving said head means toward and away from said workpiece for positioning said tooling in close proximity to said workpiece;
• e) moving said arm means along said first direction so as to move said tooling about said workpiece;
• and
• f) rotating said head means about a longitudinal axis of said arm means.

A method of positioning tooling with respect to a curvilinear workpiece having a longitudinal axis comprising the steps of:

• a) providing frame means having a first portion extending about said workpiece in a direction substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis and having a second portion extending along said workpiece in a direction substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis;
• b) providing head means containing said tooling and movably carried by said frame means;
• c) moving said frame means longitudinally along said workpiece;
• and
• d) moving said head means along said second portion of said frame means and in a direction substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis so that when said frame means is stationed at any location along said longitudinal axis of said workpiece said head means and said tooling are moved along said second portion of said frame means and therefore along a corresponding portion of said workpiece in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof.

A method of positioning tooling with respect to a curvilinear workpiece having a longitudinal axis, said workpiece being curved in a first direction extending along a plane substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis and being curved in a direction extending along a plane substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis, the degree of curvature in said first direction being greater than the degree of curvature in said second direction, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) providing frame means extending about said workpiece and including a portion curved in said first direction;
• b) providing head means containing said tooling and movably carried by said frame means;
• c) moving said frame means longitudinally along said workpiece;
• d) moving said head means toward and away from said workpiece for positioning said tooling in close proximity to said workpiece as said frame means is moved longitudinally along said workpiece;
• and
• e) moving said head means about said workpiece and along said first direction.

A method for positioning tooling with respect to a curvilinear workpiece having a longitudinal axis, said workpiece being curved in a first direction extending along a plane substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis and being curved in a second direction extending along a plane substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis, the degree of curvature in said first direction being greater than the degree of curvature in said second direction, said method comprising:

• a) providing head means carrying said tooling;
• b) moving said head means longitudinally along said workpiece and along substantially the entire length of said workpiece;
• c) moving said head means in a direction substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis and along a minor portion of the length of said workpiece so that when said head means is stationed at any location along said longitudinal axis of said workpiece by said first means said head means is moved along said minor portion of the length of said workpiece;
• d) moving said head means toward and away from said workpiece;
• e) moving said head means about an axis disposed substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis of said workpiece;
• f) moving said head means about said workpiece along a path corresponding to the curvature of said workpiece in said first direction and in a plane disposed substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis;
• and
• g) moving said head means about an axis disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said workpiece.

A method of positioning tooling with respect to a curvilinear workpiece having a longitudinal axis comprising the steps of:

• a) providing first carriage means supported on a surface spaced from said workpiece;
• b) providing second carriage means movably carried by said first carriage means;
• c) providing arm means having one end on said second carriage means and extending from said second carriage means toward said workpiece;
• d) providing head means containing said tooling and located on another end of said arm means;
• e) moving said first carriage means longitudinally along said workpiece;
• and
• f) moving said second carriage means along said first carriage means and in a direction substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said workpiece so that when said first carriage means is stationed at any location along said longitudinal axis of said workpiece said head means and said tooling are moved along said first carriage means and therefore along a corresponding portion of said workpiece and in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof.