Automatic Modular Fixture Generation in Computer-Aided Process Planning Systems

2005 ◽  
Vol 219 (10) ◽  
pp. 1147-1152 ◽  
Author(s):  
B Surendra Babu ◽  
P Madar Valli ◽  
A V V Anil Kumar ◽  
D N Rao
Keyword(s):  
Design System ◽  
Fixture Design ◽  
Modular Fixture ◽  
Computer Aided Process Planning ◽  
Software Application ◽  
Prismatic Parts ◽  
Manufacturing Constraint ◽  
Computer Aided ◽  
Design Characteristics ◽  
Fixture Configuration

Fixturing is the most commonly used manufacturing constraint in setup planning. The computer-aided fixture design technique is being rapidly developed to reduce the lead-time involved in manufacturing planning. An automated fixture configuration design system has been developed to select modular fixture components automatically and place them in position with satisfactory assembly relationships. In this paper, an automated fixture generation system for prismatic components is presented. Sequential steps for automatic fixture layout planning for machining setups, focusing on determining the most suitable locating and clamping positions in accordance with the 3-2-1 configuration, considering geometrical and dimensional constraints are presented. A software has been developed which takes two-dimensional-manufacturing drawings of the prismatic components as input and generates fixture design automatically. The modularity concept is incorporated in the developed software application and enables locating positions to be as wide apart as possible. The clamping positions are obtained directly opposite to the respective locators as far as possible. The software is tested successfully with numerous examples of prismatic parts involving similar design characteristics.

FIX-DES: A Computer-Aided Modular Fixture Configuration Design System

1997 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Ma ◽  
Z. Lei ◽  
Y. Rong
Keyword(s):  
Interactive Design ◽  
Design System ◽  
Configuration Design ◽  
Fixture Design ◽  
Design Modification ◽  
Modular Fixture ◽  
Cad Systems ◽  
Fixture Element ◽  
Computer Aided ◽  
Fixture Configuration

Abstract This paper presents a computer-aided modular fixture design system: FIX-DES. When fixturing requirements are specified as locating/clamping surfaces and points, a fixture configuration will be automatically generated by (1) selecting fixture elements from a fixture element database to form fixture units based on fixture element assembly relationships and (2) placing the fixture units and elements into position on a baseplate while the fixturing requirements and assembly relationships (e.g., hole alignment) are maintained. The fixture element assembly relationships can be automatically established when the geometric models and fixturing functions of the fixture elements are specified so that the FIX-DES system can be easily applied to different fixture systems. The system also provides the interactive design and design modification functions for human expert involvement. The system was developed with core programs in C/C++ and interface programs in a specific CAD environment. The system has been successfully applied in industry and can be easily transferred to other CAD systems. The overall structure of the FIX-DES system is introduced in the paper. The development of the automated fixture configuration design (AFCD) functions are presented in detail. Finally a fixture configura-tion design example is given to illustrate the application of the system.

A CAD-based approach to the design of fixtures for prismatic parts

1997 ◽  
Vol 211 (7) ◽  
pp. 523-538 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y C Jeng ◽  
K F Gill
Keyword(s):  
Computer Aided Design ◽  
Design System ◽  
Fixture Design ◽  
Modular Fixture ◽  
Cad System ◽  
Prismatic Parts ◽  
Design Structure ◽  
Modular Fixtures ◽  
Computer Aided ◽  
Inference Techniques

The design scheme presented utilizes the knowledge representation and inference techniques from artificial intelligence and the geometric modelling technique for modular fixture design on a CAD (computer aided design) system. The fixture design problem is formulated in a hierarchical design structure. A systematic approach for selecting the locating and clamping positions on an automatically generated fixture configuration is outlined for the building of modular fixtures. Modular fixture elements are selected by considering the required function and geometric limitation. The generated fixture layout is then represented in the CAD system. To demonstrate the proposed approach, a prototype AutoCAFD (automatic computer aided fixture design) system is introduced and a practical example is presented.

An approach to automating modular fixture design and assembly

1997 ◽  
Vol 211 (7) ◽  
pp. 509-521 ◽  
Author(s):  
J R Dai ◽  
A Y C Nee ◽  
J Y H Fuh ◽  
A Senthil Kumar
Keyword(s):  
The Other ◽  
Design System ◽  
Fixture Design ◽  
Planning Stage ◽  
Modular Fixture ◽  
Cad System ◽  
Knowledge Based ◽  
Fixture Element ◽  
Fixture Configuration ◽  
Interference Checking

In the development of a modular fixture design system, it is essential to have a modular fixture element database that can be integrated with a CAD system, in addition to the other considerations such as fixture configuration, interference checking, etc., which are also important to fixture designers. This paper describes a new method to create the fixture element database and model the fixturing towers (i.e. subassemblies). By using this method, the database can be effectively created and is easy for use in fixture assembly. The modular fixture tower database is used to represent the subassembly of fixtures. This will simplify the fixture design and assembly process. A built-in interference checking methodology is embedded in the planning stage that will ensure a collision-free fixture design. The system is developed using the knowledge- based system, ICAD, and interfacing with UG-II for modelling the workpiece. Examples of fixture design generated by the system are also provided to illustrate the development.

A Computer-Aided Fixture Design System With Process Planning Integration for Prismatic Parts Manufactured on CNC Machining Centers

1992 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Prombanpong ◽  
R. L. Lewis ◽  
A. B. Bishop
Keyword(s):  
Process Planning ◽  
Computer Hardware ◽  
Design System ◽  
Fixture Design ◽  
Process Plan ◽  
Computer Aided Process Planning ◽  
Design Considerations ◽  
Computer Aided ◽  
Jigs And Fixtures ◽  
Design Systems

Abstract Jigs and fixtures are indispensable tools in various manufacturing processes. These processes include metal removal, assembly, welding, and inspection processes. Not only do jigs and fixtures facilitate the operations, but also provide quick loading/unloading, proper and consistent supporting and locating of a workpiece. As a result, the workpiece can be manufactured economically in proportion to the volume of production. With the advent of computer aided design and computer aided manufacturing together with an increasing power of both computer hardware and software, computerized fixture design systems become feasible and more sophisticated. The current computerized fixture design systems are developed utilizing several approaches ranging from simple interactive placement of fixture components to sophisticated generative systems. However, one of the common drawbacks of these systems is a lack of process planning integration in the fixture design considerations. As a result, the contradiction between fixture design generated by the computerized fixture design system and a process plan generated by a process planner or by computer aided process planning software always occurs. In other words, the fixture set-ups and workpiece orientation are not congruent to the process plan. This paper serves to discuss a solution to the problem mentioned above. A mathematical model was developed to integrate process planning in fixture design considerations. An optimized fixture design system will be presented and discussed. Examples of tested cases are also presented.

Development of a Reference Enterprise Model for Fixture Design Information Support in Integrated Manufacturing

Manufacturing ◽  
2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fathianathan Mervyn ◽  
A. Senthil Kumar ◽  
Bok Shung Hwee ◽  
Andrew Nee Yeh Ching
Keyword(s):  
Information Exchange ◽  
Manufacturing Systems ◽  
Reference Model ◽  
Information Support ◽  
Design System ◽  
Fixture Design ◽  
Integrated Manufacturing ◽  
Design Information ◽  
Computer Aided ◽  
Machining Fixtures

A crucial factor in the success of developing integrated manufacturing systems lies in the ability to exchange information among the various computer-aided systems. Although a vast amount of research has been conducted on computer-aided fixture design systems, the need for information exchange between a fixture design system and other manufacturing systems has not been dealt with thoroughly. Models for the exchange of information within an enterprise or within an extended enterprise depend on the functionality and behaviour of individual enterprises. One means of developing an information model for an enterprise is to determine the information requirements by modelling the enterprise. However, this results in a monolithic model that is only applicable to that enterprise. As a solution to this drawback, we describe the development of a reference model for fixture design information support, which can be instantiated to be applied to different types of enterprises. We concentrate on machining fixtures and information form the fixture design domain to other domains.

Graph-Based Setup Planning and Tolerance Decomposition for Computer-Aided Fixture Design

1999 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Zhang ◽  
W. Hu ◽  
Y. Rong ◽  
David W. Yen
Keyword(s):  
Fixture Design ◽  
Alignment Error ◽  
Setup Planning ◽  
Computer Aided Process Planning ◽  
Machining Errors ◽  
Process Error ◽  
Computer Aided ◽  
Decomposition Models ◽  
Manufacturing Resource ◽  
Feature Dimension

Abstract To bridge the gap between computer-aided process planning and computer-aided fixture design, an automated setup planning and tolerance decomposition method is developed in this research. Directed graph is extended to represent feature/ dimension/tolerance relationships (FTG) and datum/machining feature relationships (DMG). According to different production schemes and manufacturing resource capabilities, setup planning principles and algorithms are explored to automatically extract DMG from FTG. Under the true positioning frame (ANSI Y14.5), tolerance decomposition models are concluded to partition a tolerance into interoperable machining errors, such as locating error, tool alignment error, random process error. The setup plan with allowable locating tolerance specifications is the basis for fixture design. The proposed method is verified in a genuine manufacturing enterprise.

A desktop virtual reality-based interactive modular fixture configuration design system

2010 ◽  
Vol 42 (5) ◽  
pp. 432-444 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gaoliang Peng ◽  
Gongdong Wang ◽  
Wenjian Liu ◽  
Haiquan Yu
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Design System ◽  
Configuration Design ◽  
Modular Fixture ◽  
Desktop Virtual Reality ◽  
Fixture Configuration
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