Patent ID: 7464853

Claim:
A method for performing a manufacturing operation on a work piece, comprising: providing at least first and second elongated members, the elongated members being spaced apart to define an elongated slot therebetween, the elongated members having a plurality of pressure applying devices disposed therealong and projecting therefrom, each pressure applying device including a contact member moveable relative to an associated one of the first and second elongated members, and a resilient member operatively coupled between the contact member and the associated one of the first and second elongated members, the contact member being resiliently biased outwardly from the elongated members by the resilient member, wherein the resilient member is at least partially disposed within a concavity formed in the elongated member; positioning the elongated members proximate a surface of the work piece; engaging the contact member of each of the plurality of pressure applying devices with the surface of the work piece; and resiliently applying a clamping force to the surface using the contact member and the resilient member of each of the plurality of pressure applying devices.