Apparatus and methods for manufacturing operations

A manufacturing assembly adapted for use on a workpiece, comprising:

• a support member positionable proximate the workpiece, wherein the support member comprises a track assembly including a pair of elongated rails;
• and
• at least one vacuum cup assembly coupled to the support member and coupleable to the workpiece, the vacuum cup assembly including:
• a housing having a vacuum generator formed therein and coupleable to a source of pressurized fluid, the vacuum generator including an internal flow duct disposed therein and adapted to expand a flow of pressurized fluid to generate a reduced pressure region within the internal flow duct, and an exhaust port adapted to release the flow of pressurized fluid from the internal flow duct following expansion;
• and
• a compliant sealing member coupled to the housing and projecting outwardly therefrom, the sealing member being adapted to at least partially form an at least partially enclosable region between the housing and the workpiece, the enclosable region being in fluid communication with the reduced pressure region so that a reduced pressure may be formed within the enclosable region when the flow of pressurized fluid is expanded, wherein the housing includes a retaining plate having at least one aperture disposed therethrough, the sealing member being coupled around an outer peripheral edge of the retaining plate, the enclosable region fluidly communicating with the reduced pressure region through the at least one aperture.

A method of performing a manufacturing operation on a workpiece, comprising:

• providing at least one vacuum cup assembly proximate the workpiece;
• coupling a support member to the at least one vacuum cup assembly;
• operatively coupling a carriage assembly to the support member, the carriage assembly being adapted to be moveable along the support member;
• providing a flow of a pressurized fluid to a vacuum generator portion of the vacuum cup assembly;
• and
• expanding at least a portion of the flow of pressurized fluid to create a reduced pressure region between the vacuum cup assembly and the workpiece,
• wherein providing at least one vacuum cup assembly proximate the workpiece includes providing at least one vacuum cup assembly having a compliant sealing member adapted to form an at least partially enclosable region proximate the workpiece, and wherein expanding at least a portion of the flow of pressurized fluid to create a reduced pressure region between the vacuum cup assembly and the workpiece includes expanding at least a portion of the flow of pressurized fluid to create a reduced pressure region within the partially enclosable region, wherein the compliant sealing member includes a plurality of feet adjacent to an outer edge of the compliant sealing member opposite the housing, the plurality of feet configured to provide a support for the workpiece when reduced pressure is experienced within the vacuum cup.