Fixtures are used to fixate, position and support workpieces and represent a crucial tool in manufacturing. Their performance determines the result of the whole manufacturing process of a product. There is a vast amount of research done on automatic fixture layout synthesis and optimisation and fixture design verification. Most of this work considers fixture mechanics to be static and the fixture elements to be passive. However, a new generation of fixtures has emerged that has actuated fixture elements for active control of the part-fixture system during manufacturing operations to increase the end product quality. This paper analyses the latest studies in the field of active fixture design and its relationship with flexible and reconfigurable fixturing systems. First, a brief introduction is given on the importance of research of fixturing systems. Secondly, the basics of workholding and fixture design are visited. After which the

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

Fixtures, are used to fixate, position and support workpieces, and form a crucial tool in manufacturing. Their performance influences the manufacturing (and assembly) process of a product. Furthermore, fixturing can form a significant portion of the needed investment and total process planning time for the manufacturing system. Many fixturing concepts, as contribution to increase the flexibility of the manufacturing system, are reported in the literature. The flexible fixturing designs can be classified into the following seven categories: modular fixtures, flexible pallet systems, sensor-based fixture design, phase-change based concepts, chuck-based concepts, pin-type array fixtures and automatically reconfigurable fixtures. It is observed that the more intelligent and automated fixturing systems are designed with the demands for automation in certain industries in mind. Furthermore, different fixturing solutions suit the engineering demands for different manufacturing areas, this means that for the foreseeable future all technologies will remain current. From the self-reconfigurable fixturing techniques a new fixturing capability is emerging: in process reconfigurability for the optimal placement of clamps and supports during the whole process time. These several concepts together with some recent patents are studied here. The paper concludes with some prospective research directions in the field of flexible fixturing.

No abstract

This paper presents two methodologies for rapid self-reconfiguration and precise part location for an intelligent fixturing system. After introducing the proposed fixture design consisting of movable actuators and integrated sensors, the methodology for the automated reconfiguration of the system is presented. This is an object-oriented approach ensuring that the fixture can work with various setups without the need of altering the control software. Finally, a part repositioning methodology is described that takes part geometrical errors into consideration.

The 21st century sees significant breakthroughs in fabricating micro devices in the quest of miniaturising. Most micro parts have been manufactured in the range of less than 1mm. However, they are built based on material that is process dependant, resulting in monolithic parts. For example the Integrated Circuits, Micro Electro Mechanical System (MEMS) are silicon based, and on their own do not constitute a complex system that requires various functions. To pursue fully functional and miniaturised complex devices, microassembly is therefore necessary. However, microassembly processes differ from the assembly processes in the macro world. Microassembly encounters sticking effects in parts handling, adhesive forces from electrostatic attraction, van der Walls forces and surface tension [1, 2]. This paper envisions microassembly processes by using an innovative approach. It departs from the traditional assembly process by utilising the Projection Micro Stero Lithography, with a positioning algorithm to assemble micro parts without traditional handling and joining, named in situ microassembly process.