Process and system tuning precision glass sheet bending

A method for precisely bending a glass sheet, comprising:

• providing a carrier to support the glass sheet in a planar orientation, such that an edge of the glass sheet overhangs a corresponding edge of the carrier;
• providing a support mechanism movable via gross translation between:
• (i) a retracted position such that a distal end thereof is away from the edge of the carrier, and (ii) an extended position such that the distal end thereof is at least proximate to the edge of the carrier;
• providing a bending system coupled to, and disposed proximate to, the distal end of the support mechanism, and operating to facilitate bending the edge of the glass sheet about the edge of the carrier such that the bending system is at least proximate to the edge of the glass sheet when the support mechanism is in the extended position;
• and
• providing a precision tuning mechanism coupling the bending system to the support mechanism, and operating to provide fine adjustments to an orientation, and a distance, of the bending system relative to the glass sheet,
• wherein the carrier operates to support the glass sheet within a furnace having an ambient temperature at least at an annealing temperature of the glass sheet, and the fine adjustments of the precision tuning mechanism are made via a plurality of controls outside the furnace at an ambient temperature substantially lower than that of the furnace.