Methods and apparatus for counterbalance-assisted manufacturing operations

An assembly for performing a manufacturing operation on the surface of a workpiece, comprising:

• a base configured to be attached to the workpiece;
• a tool assembly having:
• a first component coupled to the base;
• a second component moveable along a translation axis relative to the first component;
• and
• a manufacturing tool operatively coupled to the second component and configured to perform the manufacturing operation on the surface of the workpiece, the tool operating along an axis that is substantially perpendicular to the translation axis;
• and
• a biasing device including:
• a first portion coupled to the first component;
• a second portion coupled to the second component, the first and second portions being moveably coupled to define a chamber;
• and
• a control component configured to adjustably control a flow of pressurized medium to the chamber to apply a biasing force to the second component to at least partially counterbalance a force exerted on the second component along the translation axis by a weight of the tool assembly during performance of the manufacturing operation.

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

• moveably supporting a manufacturing tool relative to the workpiece using a tool assembly having a first component and a second component moveably coupled to the first component and to the manufacturing tool, the second component being moveable along a translation direction with respect to the first component;
• applying a biasing force to the second component of the tool assembly using a biasing device having a first portion coupled to the first component and a second portion coupled to the second component, the first and second portions being moveably coupled and configured to apply the biasing force via a flow of a pressurized medium to at least partially counterbalance a force applied to the second component by a weight of the manufacturing tool;
• controllably adjusting at least one of a magnitude and a direction of the biasing force applied to the second component by regulating the flow of the pressurized medium to the biasing device;
• and
• performing the manufacturing operation on the workpiece using the manufacturing tool.