Richard Lee Nicholas

US Patent:

42838347, Aug 18, 1981

Filed:

Mar 19, 1979

Appl. No.:

6/021404

Inventors:

Richard F. Nicholas - Whittier CA

Assignee:

Rockwell International Corporation - El Segundo CA

International Classification:

B23K 3704
H01R 4302

US Classification:

29468

Abstract:

The invention is an apparatus and method for aligning a very fine wire relative to a workpiece. It comprises an alignment fixture supporting a pair of spaced-apart lead screws for receiving the wire in the threads thereof. The wire is affixed to spacer arms oppositely protruding from the fixture and spans the spacing between the screws. The workpiece is supported between the spacer arms and may be raised or lowered to provide alignment with the wire which is then translated or oriented by turning either or both of the lead screws until the relative alignment is achieved. The wire is affixed to each of the arms in a slackened condition and a tiny weight is suspended from the wire for yieldably tensioning the same across the threads, but providing for translation without fracture.