Patent ID: 7918024

Claim:
A method for manufacturing a turbine nozzle assembly using a fixture, said method comprising: providing a first position of the fixture wherein a central longitudinal axis of the fixture is generally parallel with a generally horizontal surface supporting the fixture; providing a second position wherein the central longitudinal axis is generally perpendicular to the generally horizontal surface supporting the fixture; positioning at least one datum of the turbine nozzle assembly adjacent at least one datum location point on the fixture when the fixture is in the first position; removably coupling the turbine nozzle assembly to the fixture when the fixture is in the first position; rotating the fixture using a rack and pinion device from the first position into the second position while the turbine nozzle assembly remains coupled to the fixture, wherein the second position facilitates manufacturing the turbine nozzle assembly, the rack and pinion device including an indexer and an index plate locking the fixture in the second position with the indexer and the index plate; and performing a manufacturing process on the turbine nozzle assembly when the fixture is in the second position.