Workpiece micro-positioning apparatus

A workpiece micro-positioning apparatus for correcting small pitch and yaw location errors in a workpiece supported on a fixture for a manufacturing operation, the apparatus comprising:

• a biaxial micro-positioner including:
• a pitch motion mechanism configured to support a workpiece for rotation about a pitch axis;
• a yaw motion mechanism supporting the pitch motion mechanism for rotation about a yaw axis generally normal to the pitch axis;
• a base supporting the pitch and yaw motion mechanism;
• the apparatus further comprising:
• a fixture fixed to the micro-positioner and configured to releasably hold a workpiece, the micro-positioner configured to allow rotation of the fixture about the pitch and yaw axes to correct any pitch and yaw deviations from a desired workpiece attitude relative to the base and to releasably lock the pitch and yaw motion mechanisms following such correction;
• and
• a manipulator configured to releasably engage the micro-positioner and rotate the pitch and yaw motion mechanisms about the pitch and yaw axes, respectively.

A workpiece micro-positioning apparatus for correcting small pitch and yaw location errors in a workpiece supported on a fixture for a manufacturing operation, the apparatus comprising:

• a biaxial micro-positioner including:
• a pitch motion mechanism configured to support a workpiece for rotation about a pitch axis;
• a yaw motion mechanism supporting the pitch motion mechanism for rotation about a yaw axis generally normal to the pitch axis;
• and
• a base supporting the pitch and yaw motion mechanism;
• the apparatus further comprising:
• a fixture fixed to the micro-positioner and configured to releasably hold a workpiece, the micro-positioner configured to allow rotation of the fixture about the pitch and yaw axes to correct any pitch and yaw deviations from a desired workpiece attitude relative to the base and to releasably lock the pitch and yaw motion mechanisms following such correction;
• and
• the yaw motion mechanism including a rotatable and releasably lockable rotary plate supported on the base for rotation about the yaw axis, the pitch motion mechanism including a releasably lockable tilt plate disposed parallel to the pitch axis and supported on the rotary plate for tilting motion about the pitch axis.

A workpiece micro-positioning apparatus for correcting small pitch and yaw location errors in a workpiece supported on fixture for a manufacturing operation, the apparatus comprising:

• a biaxial micro-positioner including:
• a pitch motion mechanism configured to support a workpiece for rotation about a pitch axis;
• a yaw motion mechanism supporting the pitch motion mechanism for rotation about a yaw axis generally normal to the pitch axis;
• and
• a base supporting the pitch and yaw motion mechanism;
• the apparatus further comprising:
• a fixture fixed to the micro-positioner and configured to releasably hold a workpiece, the micro-positioner configured to allow rotation of the fixture about the pitch and yaw axes to correct any pitch and yaw deviations from a desired workpiece attitude relative to the base and to releasably lock the pitch and yaw motion mechanisms following such correction;
• and
• inner and outer radially-spaced concentric supports rotatably supporting the rotary plate to limit motion of a supported workpiece under manufacturing loads.

A method for correcting small pitch and yaw location errors in a workpiece supported on a fixture for a manufacturing operation, the method including the steps of:

• providing a micro-positioner apparatus including a pitch motion mechanism configured to support a workpiece for rotation about a pitch axis, a yaw motion mechanism supporting the pitch motion mechanism for rotation about a yaw axis generally normal to the pitch axis, and a base supporting the pitch and yaw motion mechanism;
• providing a fixture on the micro-positioner;
• providing a manipulator configured to releasably engage the micro-positioner and rotate the pitch and yaw motion mechanisms about the pitch and yaw axes, respectively;
• providing a workpiece on the fixture;
• causing the manipulator to engage the micro-positioner;
• and
• correcting pitch and yaw attitude errors of the workpiece relative to the micropositioner base by actuating the manipulator to rotate the workpiece about the pitch and yaw axes.

A method of correcting small pitch and yaw location errors in a workpiece supported on a fixture for a manufacturing operation, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a biaxial micro-positioner including:
• supporting a workpiece with a pitch motion mechanism for rotation about a pitch axis;
• supporting the pitch motion mechanism with a yaw motion mechanism for rotation about a yaw axis generally normal to the pitch axis;
• and
• supporting the pitch and yaw motion mechanism on a base;
• the method further comprising:
• attaching a fixture to the micro-positioner to releasably hold a workpiece;
• providing a rotatable and releasably lockable rotary plate supported on the base for rotation about the yaw axis as part of the yaw motion mechanism;
• rotating the fixture about the pitch and yaw axes to correct any pitch and yaw deviations from a desired workpiece attitude relative to the base;
• releasably locking the pitch and yaw motion mechanisms following such correction;
• and
• providing a releasably lockable tilt plate disposed parallel to the pitch axis and supported on the rotary plate for tilting motion about the pitch axis as part of the pitch motion mechanism.