Good Modular-Fixturing Uses
The following applications provide the best opportunity to take advantage of modular fixturing's pluses.
One-time jobs. With modular fixturing, a workholder can be economically built, even for a one-part run. In most job shops, each machine tool does a variety of tasks in a single day. With modular fixturing, jobs can be performed with specialized workholders at a cost very competitive with crude machine table setups. Here, modular fixtures increase quality and accuracy, yet still maintain competitive costs.
Infrequent production runs. Jobs that are not repeated regularly often entail short leadtimes. Modular fixturing permits rapid setup of short-notice production runs.
Prototype parts. Prototype or experimental parts frequently require special workholders. Since the workpieces are often changed or redesigned, the cost of building jigs or fixtures for each new workpiece variation can be prohibitive. Modular fixturing is the best alternative. With modular workholders, each variation of the workpiece can be quickly fixtured with little or no downtime.
Customized replacement parts. Replacement parts are an expensive problem for many shops. In the past, these parts were made in large lots and placed in storage. Some parts were quickly sold while others were never ordered. Modular fixturing eliminates the need
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for an inventory of slow-moving replacement parts, because it permits a company to respond to orders as they are received.
Trial fixturing. Before a product goes into production, workholders must be designed, built, and tested. Assembling a modular workholder for a workpiece allows the tool designer to test new designs and find problem areas. Modular workholders allow a designer to fine tune tooling ideas before a final production workholder is built.
While permanent fixtures are built or repaired. No matter how well a permanent jig or fixture is built, most require repair or maintenance. A modular workholder can easily be assembled and placed into production while the permanent workholder is repaired. Modular fixtures also buy time for proper building of permanent fixtures without delaying production. |
