ABSTRACT

In CAD/CAM integration, the development of automated fixture-design sys­ tems capable of handling various part geometries is a pertinent link. The function of a fixture is to locate and hold a workpiece in position during certain manufacturing processes such as machining, welding, inspection, and assembly. Recently, the research work on a modular-fixturing system (MFS) has formed a significant part of the investigations into the development of automated fixture-design systems. The objective of an MFS is to achieve the flexibility through multipurpose fixturing. A modular fixture is built up from a combination of standard fixture components. A large variety of con­ figurations can be obtained by using different combinations of these com­ ponents. The modular-fixture components can be reused to reduce the capital investment and manufacturing leadtime (Thompson and Ghandi, 1986; Zhu, 1990). An example of a modular fixture is shown in Fig. 1.