METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING OPERATIONS

摘要

Methods and apparatus for manufacturing operations are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus for supporting a tool relative to a surface of a workpiece includes a base adapted to be attached to the workpiece, a tool support coupled to the base, and a biasing device coupled to both the base a nd the tool support. The tool support is moveable relative to the base along a translation axis, and the biasing device is biasable along a biasing axis th at is at least partially along the translation axis. The biasing device is adapted to at least partially counterbalance a force (e.g. a gravitational force) exerted on the tool support along the translation axis.