Patent ID: 6855099
Filing Date: 2005-02-15
Classification: B21C,B21J,B23Q,B64F,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A production system for processing a workpiece, comprising: an index system including a plurality of index devices removably mounted on the workpiece at known longitudinally spaced locations therealong, and a longitudinally extending index member releasably engaged with at least two of the index devices such that a position and orientation of the index member are fixed relative to the workpiece by the index devices, the index member having position-indicating features therealong; and a machine module mounted for longitudinal movement along the index member and operable to perform an operation, the machine module being operable to detect the position-indicating features on the index member and thereby determine a position of the machine module relative to the workpiece, wherein each of the index devices has a machine-readable sensor mounted therein, the sensor in each index device storing information including an identifier unique to said respective index device, and wherein the machine module includes a reader operable to read the identifier stored in the respective sensor.