US Patent 7178255 Methods and apparatus for manufacturing components

A method for aligning a first and a second component for manufacturing using an alignment member. The first component includes at least one first datum and the second component includes at least one second datum. The method includes fixedly securing the alignment member to a fixture in a first orientation relative to the fixture, coupling the first component to the fixture such that the at least one first datum is aligned with a corresponding datum locator of a first datum nest of the alignment member, removing the first component from the fixture, repositioning the alignment member relative to the fixture from the first orientation to a second orientation, fixedly securing the alignment member in the second orientation, and coupling the second component to the fixture such that the at least one second datum is aligned with a corresponding datum locator of a second datum nest of the alignment member.