TOOL AND FIXTURE DESIGN
Assembly Fixtures and Tool Molds
We can generate any type of tool or fixture. From complex 5 axis machined panels to simple fixtures for formed sheet metal, or composite lay-ups, we can satisfy any type of tooling requirement.
Additive Manufacturing/Rapid Prototyping
We can create assembly fixtures and tool molds using conventional metal parts or using resin based materials from additive manufacturing. New high-strength resin materials allow for quick tooling molds to be fabricated. These can be used for stretch and hydro-formed tools.
They can also be used to build complex fixtures for part assembly. Since they are not created using conventional metal build up techniques (welding, bolting, machining, break forming), with the use of 3D CAD, they can be designed to perform numerous tasks at the same time such as:
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holding numerous parts in place
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locating numerous parts
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locating drill guides
This image shows the assembly fixture with aerospace door panel in place. The 50" by 28" door panel (shown in green) has a concave OML surface contour.
This image shows the various components in this fixture assembly:
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The brown parts are all created using additive manufacturing
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Gray frame is typical welded/bolted steel and aluminum
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Green represents the door assembly
Longitudinal stiffener locators locate the panels "Z" bracing in place and also provide downward clamping pressure,
OML holding saddles hold the contoured, multi layered, skin panels in place hold drill guides in place for eventual fastener install.
Multi-purpose end fixtures hold numerous parts in place and hold drill guides.
Here we show the completed parts
