Method and apparatus for establishing work position of manufacturing tool

A computer-implemented method for establishing a plurality of preselected work positions for a vehicle assembly apparatus having a base and a frame movably engaged with the base, such that parts of a vehicle can be oriented at a plurality of orientations relative to a robotic welder during processing, comprising:

• (a) moving the frame to a desired work orientation relative to the base;
• (b) generating a set signal when the frame is in the desired work orientation;
• (c) generating a position signal representative of the work orientation;
• and
• (d) correlating the position signal to a preselected work orientation.

A system for promoting assembly line versatility during vehicle assembly using a plurality of movable robotic welders, comprising:

• a base juxtaposed with the welders;
• a frame movably coupled to the base;
• a means for moving the frame relative to the base;
• a controller electrically connected to the moving means;
• a position sensor electrically connected to the controller for generating a position signal representative of the orientation of the frame relative to the base;
• a data input device electrically connected to the controller for generating a set signal;
• and
• computer code elements accessible to the controller and embodying machine-readable instructions for executing method steps comprising:
• receiving the position signal;
• and
• recording the orientation of the frame upon receipt of the set signal, based on the position signal.