Flexible fixture

1. A holding assembly comprising:

a plurality of support assemblies, each support assembly comprising an end adapted to support a workpiece, wherein each end includes a movable coupling adapted to hold the end in a selected orientation; and

a positioning device having a remote end moveable to a position proximate the end of the support assembly, the remote end configured to operate the moveable coupling so as to obtain the selected orientation of each end, wherein the remote end is an aligning fixture comprising:

a support having a mount coupleable to the positioning device and a reference surface;

an aligning member; and

an aligning actuator mounted to the support and operably coupled to the aligning member to move the aligning member selectively to a first position in front of the reference surface wherein an element to be aligned is spaced apart from the reference surface and to a second position where the element can engage the reference surface.

2. The holding assembly of claim 1 wherein the aligning member comprises a retractable rod.

3. The holding assembly of claim 2 wherein the aligning member comprises a set of spaced apart retractable rods.

4. The holding assembly of claim 3 and further comprising the aligning actuator is operably coupled to the spaced apart retractable rods.

5. The holding assembly of claim 4 and further comprising a connector coupling the aligning actuator to the spaced apart retractable rods.

6. The holding assembly of claim 5 and a sensor operably coupled to each of the rods to detect contact of a remote end of the rod with the element.

7. The holding assembly of claim 6 wherein each sensor detects movement of the corresponding rod when the remote end of the rod contacts the element.

8. The holding assembly of claim 1 wherein the reference surface includes a port coupled to a fluid passageway.

9. The holding assembly of claim 8 and further comprising a pressure sensor operably coupled to the port with the fluid passageway.

10. The holding assembly of claim 1 and further comprising a sensor to sense contact of the element with the aligning member.

11. The holding assembly of claim 1 and further comprising a second sensor to sense contact of the element with the reference surface.

12. A holding assembly comprising:

a plurality of support assemblies, each support assembly comprising an end adapted to sup ort a workpiece, wherein each end includes a movable coupling adapted to hold the end in a selected orientation; and

a positioning device having a remote end moveable to a position proximate each end of each support assembly, the remote end configured to operate each moveable coupling so as to obtain the selected orientation of each end, and wherein the remote end comprises a mount; and an end effector detachably coupleable to the mount and comprising a tool to perform inspection or work on a workpiece.

13. The holding assembly of claim 12 wherein the positioning device comprises a controller configured to orient each of the ends of the plurality of support assemblies and to perform inspection or work on a workpiece with the end effector.

14. The holding assembly of claim 12 wherein the ends can be selectively positioned to define points along a curve.

15. The holding assembly of claim 12 wherein the support assemblies are mounted on a support structure having a base and a support moveable on the base, wherein at least one support assembly is mounted to the support.

16. The holding assembly of claim 15 and further comprising a second support moveable on the base, wherein at least one support assembly is mounted to the support.

17. A holding assembly comprising:

a plurality of support assemblies, each support assembly comprising a linear actuator with an end adapted to support a workpiece, wherein each end includes a movable coupling adapted to hold the end in a selected orientation;

a positioning device having a remote end moveable to a position proximate each end of each support assembly, the remote end configured to operate each moveable coupling so as to obtain the selected orientation of each end; and

a support wherein the plurality of support assemblies are mounted to the support such that at least some of the axes of the linear actuators are non-parallel.

18. A holding assembly comprising:

a plurality of support assemblies, each support assembly comprising an end adapted to support a workpiece, wherein the end includes a movable coupling adapted to hold the end in a selected orientation, wherein the movable coupling comprises elements maintaining the selected orientation by friction; and

a positioning device having a remote end moveable to a position proximate each end of each support assembly, the remote end configured to operate each moveable coupling so as to obtain the selected orientation of each end.

19. The holding assembly of claim 18 wherein the ends can be selectively positioned to define points along a curve.

20. A holding assembly comprising:

a plurality of support assemblies, each support assembly comprising an end adapted to support a workpiece, wherein each end includes a movable coupling adapted to hold the end in a selected orientation; and

a positioning device having a remote end moveable to a position proximate each end of each support assembly, the remote end configured to operate each moveable coupling so as to obtain the selected orientation of each end, the positioning device including: a controller configured to position the remote end so as to adjust each of the movable couplings; and wherein the holding assembly further comprises an end effector detachably coupleable to the remote end and comprising a tool to perform inspection or work on a workpiece.

21. The holding assembly of claim 20 wherein the controller is configured to orient each of the ends and to perform inspection or work on a workpiece with the end effector.