Sub-micron adjustable mount for supporting a component and method

A resistance spot welding system for fixedly attaching an attachment surface of an electrically conductive workpiece to an electrically conductive support surface that is defined by a support arrangement, said system comprising:

• a biasing force arrangement having a biasing tip for distributing a biasing force at least partially around a weld region of the workpiece to selectively bias the attachment surface of the workpiece against said support surface in a way which at least resists welding induced movement of the workpiece relative to the support arrangement and for defining a through hole having an exit opening, formed within the biasing tip, that is at least generally aligned with the weld region when the biasing force arrangement delivers said biasing force around the weld region;
• an elongated, flexible electrode, having an overall length between a first end and a second, opposing end;
• and
• a resilient urging configuration for resiliently urging the electrode into the through hole to cause at least a first portion of the overall length of the electrode to be received in the through hole in a way which supports the first end of the electrode, terminating in an electrode tip for emerging from the exit opening to contact the workpiece at said weld region, while applying a welding current through said electrode tip so as to weld the attachment surface of the workpiece to the support surface.

A resistance spot welding method for fixedly attaching an attachment surface of an electrically conductive workpiece to an electrically conductive support surface that is defined by a support arrangement, said method comprising:

• providing an electrode, having an elongated flexible length between a first end portion and a second, opposing end portion;
• configuring a biasing force arrangement having a biasing tip for distributing a biasing force at least partially around a weld region of the workpiece to selectively bias the attachment surface of the workpiece against said support surface in a way which at least resists welding induced movement of the workpiece relative to the support arrangement;
• defining an electrode passage in the biasing force arrangement for slidingly receiving a substantial portion of the elongated length of the electrode in a way which positions the first end portion of the electrode at the biasing tip to serve as an electrode tip that is at least generally aligned with the weld region when the biasing force arrangement delivers said biasing force and which positions the second end portion of the electrode proximately external to an opposing entrance of the electrode passage;
• and
• resiliently urging the second end portion of the electrode into the opposing entrance opening of the electrode passage using a resilient force to cause the electrode passage to limit lateral movement of the electrode therein sufficient to transfer at least a portion of the resilient force from the second end portion of the electrode to the electrode tip so that the electrode tip resiliently contacts the weld region, while applying a welding current through said electrode tip, so as to weld the attachment surface of the workpiece to the support surface.

A resistance spot welding system for fixedly attaching an attachment surface of an electrically conductive workpiece to an electrically conductive support surface that is defined by a support arrangement, said system comprising:

• an electrode, having an elongated flexible length between opposing first and second end portions;
• a biasing force arrangement having a biasing tip for distributing a biasing force around a weld region of the workpiece to selectively bias the attachment surface of the workpiece against said support surface in a way which at least resists welding induced movement of the workpiece relative to the support arrangement, said biasing force arrangement defining an electrode passage which slidingly receives a substantial portion of the elongated length of the electrode such that the first end portion of the electrode is positioned at the biasing tip to serve as an electrode tip that is at least generally aligned with the weld region when the biasing force arrangement delivers said biasing force around the weld region and which positions the second end portion of the electrode proximately external to an opposing entrance of the electrode passage;
• and
• a configuration for resiliently urging the second end portion of the electrode into the electrode passage using a resilient force to cause the electrode passage to limit lateral movement of the electrode therein sufficient to transfer at least a portion of the resilient force from the second end portion of the electrode to the electrode tip so that the electrode tip resiliently contacts the weld region, while applying a welding current through said electrode tip, so as to weld the attachment surface of the workpiece to the support surface.