This paper presents a new fixture design methodology for sheet metal assembly processes. It focuses on the impact of fixture position on the dimensional quality of sheet metal parts after assembly by considering the effect of part variation, tooling variation and assembly springback. An optimization algorithm combines finite element analysis and nonlinear programming methods to determine the op...

Widely used in manufacturing, fixtures have a direct impact upon product manufacturing quality, productivity and cost, so much attention has already been paid to the research of computer aided fixture design (CAFD) and many achievements in this field have been reported. In this paper, a literature survey of computer aided fixture design and automation over the past decade is proposed. First, an...

This paper details an application of genetic algorithms (GA) developed for the optimisation of fixture locator positioning for 3D freeform components. Based on the information of the workpiece, a genetic algorithm based approach is applied to determine the most statically stable fixture configuration from a large number of possible candidates. The preliminary implementation is introduced to dem...

This paper addresses a major issue in fixture layout design to determine and evaluate the acceptable fixture designs based on multiple quality criteria and to select an optimal fixture with appropriate trade-offs among multiple performance requirements. The performance objectives considered are related to the fundamental requirements of kinematic localization and total fixturing (formclosure). ...

Fixture plays an important part in constraining excessive sheet metal part deformation at machining, assembly, and measuring stages during the whole manufacturing process. However, it is still a difficult and nontrivial task to design and optimize sheet metal fixture locating layout at present because there is always no direct and explicit expression describing sheet metal fixture locating layo...

Fixtures are used to locate and hold parts during automated inspection, machining, or assembly. Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) are tiny devices built in batch processes derived from integrated circuit fabrication. We describe a design for an array of MEMS microfixtures for parallel inspection, transport, and assembly of microfabricated parts. In a microfixture array, parts are brought ne...

In automotive industry fixtures have a direct effect on product manufacturing quality, productivity and cost, as a result fixtures, particularly welding fixture, play a crucial role in the auto industry. The fixture is a special tool for holding a work piece in proper position during manufacturing operation, so in the phase of the fixture design process positioning pins and surfaces are used to...