An Automatic Fixture Design System for Creating Prismatic Parts

Abstract

A modular fixture system is a flexible alternative to a dedicated fixture. In this paper, an automatic modular fixture design system is suggested for creating prismatic parts. The system contains fixture planning, fixture modelling, and fixture assembly. The part geometrical database and process plans are considered as inputs to the system. A rulebased method is applied to assign the feasible locating scheme and the locating and clamping datum. The search strategy is designed to determine the most suitable locating and clamping points. The final fixture assembly is made with the standard fixture components using the CATVBA Editor inside CATIAV5. The proposed methodology is successfully validated with a case study. OPSOMMING'n Aanpasbare hegtingsisteem is 'n buigsame alternatief vir 'n toegewyde hegstuk. 'n Outomatiese aanpasbare hegstuk ontwerpsisteem vir die skep van prismatiese onderdele word voorgestel. Die sisteem bevat hegstuk beplanning, hegstuk modellering en hegstuk samestelling. Die onderdeel geometriese databasis en proses planne word as insette gebruik. A reëlgebaseerde metode is toegepas om die opsporings en vasklem verwysingspunte toe te ken. Die soekstrategie is ontwerp om die mees geskikte verwysingsen klempunte te bepaal. Die finale hegstuk samestelling is gemaak van die standaard hegstuk komponente van die CATVBA Editor van CATIAV5. Die voorgestelde benadering is suksesvol gevalideer deur middel van 'n gevallestudie.