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From the development of new machines and cutting tools to the wide variety of new manufacturing methods and concepts available, the art of manufacturing has undergone many dramatic advancements in recent years. As a result, many older tools and techniques are being evaluated to make sure they are still appropriate for today's production systems. Fixturing is one area that has been closely scrutinized in an effort to find the most cost effective and efficient workholding methods and devices. One fixturing alternative gaining popularity is modular fixturing.
While modular fixturing has generated considerable interest over the past few years, it is not a new tooling idea. In fact, modular fixturing devices were first developed in England during World War II as an answer to the air raids on their war plants. However, despite this longevity, many engineers and toolmakers know little about this unique form of tooling. To help explain the benefits of modular fixturing, Carr Lane has prepared a technical volume called the "Modular Fixturing Handbook." Whether you're now considering modular fixturing for your company or simply want to know more about this form of tooling, this handbook can be useful and informative.
The 216-page book contains virtually everything you'll need to know about how to plan, design, and build modular fixtures. The first chapter provides a good overview of modular fixturing and how it relates to the other common types of workholders used in manufacturing. Major benefits of modular fixtures are featured, as well as general applications where these fixtures are typically best suited. Even the comparative values and formulas necessary for making cost-effective choices between modular fixturing and dedicated fixtures are thoroughly discussed and illustrated.
The handbook also addresses basic jig and fixture design principles and fundamentals. The elementary aspects of workpiece locating, clamping and tool referencing are explained and illustrated. Also included are detailed descriptions and typical applications of the general modular fixturing components available in the Carr Lane system. While this text is primarily limited to discussions of the Carr Lane Modular Fixturing system, the general information included is well suited for any other dowel-pin-type modular fixturing system.
Other chapters list step-by-step instructions for designing and building modular fixtures. Starting from a detailed pre-design analysis where all the important design and workpiece details are reviewed and evaluated through to the basic fixture assembly procedure, virtually all design elements are thoroughly covered. From workholder planning, design, evaluation and documentation to
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developing design alternatives and economics, the book provides a wealth of information and economic justifications for modular component workholders.
Once the technical design data is understood, the reader can move on to the sample workholder designs contained in the book. Here, the basic assembly process is explained and illustrated in general terms. There are a series of four different sample workholders assembled for four different workpieces. These include chuck jaws, a housing, a trunnion bearing housing and a valve. Each workpiece represents a different type of fixture and each is assembled to suit a variety of different operations. Each step of this assembly is covered as each new modular element is added to the fixture. The various pieces are described and the reason for their use is explained.
This step-by-step demonstration is continued in the last chapter of the book where modular components are used to assemble a power-operated workholder. The basic aspects of the Carr Lane power workholding components are described and explained. A sample fixture is also shown assembled from modular components and hydraulic workholding elements. These include both the standard off-the-shelf Carr Lane hydraulic components and a selection of the available adaptor plates that can be used to convert the hydraulic components to suit the hole pattern of the modular components.
The Carr Lane "Modular Fixturing Handbook" is an exceptional reference resource for anyone interested in modular component workholders. Although the text concentrates primarily on the Carr Lane modular system and other fixturing components, the information provided is broad enough to apply to many other similar modular fixturing systems. Whether you're deeply involved in using modular workholders or simply looking into the possibility of using this tooling form, the "Modular Fixturing Handbook" is an ideal reference. |
