Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Mark A Cline

Andrew Leslie Bartos

Roland J Menassa

Yhu-Tin Lin

Michael H Lovell

David R Friddell

Douglas T Wohlenhaus

Joseph J Ekl, Jr

Arturo M Martinez

Douglas R Black

The end-effector includes an articulating frame mounted on an indexable boom. Tool modules mount on the end-effector and connect to a workpiece. Each tool module includes a flexible dress package including a cable carrier. A channel rail is supported by the end-effector frame and guides the cable carrier. A setup tool and associated process can reconfigure the positions of the tool modules and the frame and boom of the end-effector.

Reconfigurable end-effectors with articulating frame and indexable master boom

A tube bending assembly adapted for use with a rotary draw bender, and preferably including a bend die mounting unit for securing a plurality of stacked bend dies drivenly coupled to the bender, a bend die tower unit for structurally supporting the bend die mounting unit, a wiper die mounting unit for securing a wiper die adjacent a selected bend die, a clamp die mounting unit for positioning and securing a clamp die, a pressure die mounting unit for securing a pressure die adjacent the clamp die, a mandrel saddle unit for positioning and enabling the utilization of a mandrel assembly, a collet saddle unit for positioning and enabling the utilization of a collet, and a bolster unit that interconnects the units, so as to present an integrated assembly capable of concurrent disconnection from and connection to the bender, and thereby reducing the tool set change-over period.

Quick change bend tooling bolster

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Clarkston, MI, United States of America

Mark A Cline