Patent ID: 7587805
Filing Date: 2009-09-15
Classification: B23B,B23Q,B25B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A fixture device, comprising: a base member; a reconfigurable pad disposed on the base member, wherein the reconfigurable pad comprises a share memory material configured to selectively conform to a surface contour of a workpiece; and an activation device in operative communication with the share memory material, wherein the shape memory material of the reconfigurable pad is a composite comprising a shape memory alloy and a shape memory polymer, and wherein the shape memory polymer and the shape memory alloy are selected in accordance with a temperature relationship T.sub.w<T.sub.g<T.sub.t.ltoreq.T.sub.r<M.sub.d, T.sub.max, wherein T.sub.w is a working temperature for the fixture device; T.sub.g is a first thermal transition temperature of the shape memory polymer; T.sub.t is a temperature employed for configuring the reconfigurable pad; T.sub.r is a temperature employed for recovery of the reconfigurable pad to an original shape; M.sub.d is a temperature above which the shape memory alloy loses its shape memory properties; and T.sub.max is a lesser of a last transition temperature or an oxidation temperature for the shape memory polymer.