Flexible fixture design and automation: Review, issues and future directions

Bi, Zhuming; Zhang, W. J.

doi:10.1080/00207540110054579

Cited by 213 publications

(97 citation statements)

References 58 publications

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“…All these concepts rely on robots. Fixture modules can be assembled and reconfigured by means of robot systems, where a robot places the fixture elements in the holes of a base plate [52] or on magnetic chucks [2,7,16]. The lack of positional accuracy reported for modular fixtures is also reported for this concept, as it relies on the positional accuracy of the robot.…”

Section: Automatically Reconfigurable Fixturesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For this reason, the modular elements can best be described as adult versions of construction toys such as fishertechnik R , LEGO R or MECCANO R . Many approaches for computer-aided-design automatisation have been reported in the literature [2,6,7,9,16]. 8 Assembly, tooling and or inspection fixtures fixtures are generally larger and less stiff than machining fixtures.…”

Section: Modular Fixturesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A survey in the literature reveals that a large part of the research effort goes into computer-aided fixture design, as reviewed in References [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]; fixture design verification, discussions on which can be found in References [2,[7][8][9]; active fixturing [13]. Overviews of prior art regarding hardware concepts for (automatically) reconfigurable fixtures can be found in the following publications: [2,7,10,[14][15][16]. In order to establish the requirements for flexible fixturing systems, the fixture design process is studied in Sec.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Recent Research on Flexible Fixtures for Manufacturing Processes

Bakker¹,

Papastathis²,

Ratchev³

et al. 2013

MENG

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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.

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Section: Automatically Reconfigurable Fixturesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Modular Fixturesmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Recent Research on Flexible Fixtures for Manufacturing Processes

Bakker¹,

Papastathis²,

Ratchev³

et al. 2013

MENG

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“…Reducing the number of fixture variables simplifies the fixture analysis process, but results in fewer fixturing options. Fixture synthesis involves selecting appropriate variable values using the models obtained from fixture analysis [3].…”

Section: Fixture Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It was determined, through research, that there was a need for a fixture system that could accommodate a variety of different part families and geometries, automatically perform setups and setup changeovers, provide feedback and adaptivity during machining processes, and provide semiautomatic fixture design [3]. This paper presents the research, design, manufacture, and testing of a fixture system that met these requirements, known as an automated flexible fixture system (AFFS).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Automated Flexible Fixture System for Mass Customization

Illidge

Bright

2018

SAJIE

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The need for mass customisation is growing as customer demand for customised products increases. Mass customisation is the production of custom products at mass-produced rates. Current fixture technology does not possess the flexibility required for mass customisation. It was determined, through research, that if mass customisation is to be achieved, a fixture system is required that possesses the following attributes: it accommodates a large variety of part families and geometries; it has automated setups and setup changeovers; it has a semi-automated fixture design; and it provides adaptive feedback during machining processes. A fixture system, known as an automated flexible fixture system (AFFS), was developed that met these requirements. The AFFS was researched, designed, manufactured, and tested. The tests involved determining the AFFS's response to changes in cutting conditions. The AFFS's response to the tests indicated that it behaved normally, for the most part, with higher feed rates and spindle speeds generally yielding higher or more vibrational frequency bands. Further development is required before the AFFS meets commercial standards. However, as a proof of concept it was successful. This paper presents the developed AFFS in more detail. OPSOMMINGDie behoefte aan grootskaalse op bestelling aangepaste vervaardigde produkte is aan die toeneem. Die bestaande hegstuktegnologie beskik nie oor die vermoë om hiervoor voorsiening te maak nie. Dit is bepaal, deur navorsing, dat ŉ hegstuksisteem wat die volgende eienskappe besit benodig word om grootskaalse op bestelling vervaardiging te bewerkstellig: dit moet ŉ groot verskeidenheid van onderdeel-soorte en -vorms akkommodeer, dit moet van geoutomatiseerde opstellings en opstelling veranderings beskik, dit moet uit ŉ semi-geoutomatiseerde hegstukontwerp bestaan en dit moet voorsienning maak vir aanpasbare terugvoer tydens die masjinering proses. ŉ Hegstuksisteem is ontwikkel wat aan hierdie vereistes voldoen. Dié sisteem is nagevors, ontwerp, vervaardig en getoets. Tydens die toetse is die sisteem se reaksie op veranderinge in die masjineringstoestande bepaal. Die sisteem se reaksie tydens die toetse het getoon dat dit meestal normaal reageer het, met hoër voer-en spilsnelhede wat in die algemeen meer vibrasie bandwydtes lewer. Verdere ontwikkeling is nodig voordat die sisteem kommersiële standaarde haal. As ŉ bewys van konsep was dit egter suksesvol. Hierdie artikel bespreek die sisteem in detail.

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