Open AccessAutomatic positioning methodology and algorithm for modular jigs and fixtures components
Author(s) -
Tom Savu,
Sorin Nanu,
Cristian Ene
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
iop conference series. materials science and engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1757-899X
pISSN - 1757-8981
DOI - 10.1088/1757-899x/1018/1/012015
Subject(s) - clamping , component (thermodynamics) , modular design , fixture , search engine indexing , computer science , engineering drawing , tree (set theory) , algorithm , position (finance) , node (physics) , engineering , artificial intelligence , mechanical engineering , mathematics , computer vision , mathematical analysis , physics , structural engineering , finance , economics , thermodynamics , operating system
One of the steps in designing a modular jig or fixture assembly is that of selecting the appropriate components. Among these components, those forming the jig’s body must be chosen for closing the dimensional chains between the other locating, clamping, or indexing components. The methodology starts by defining the components’ virtual connectors, specifying the rules for establishing their coordinates systems, and then is defining the rules to be followed for aligning and assembling two adjacent components. Different cases are described and only some of them are detailed, for clarity reasons. The algorithm is looking to determine a series of components from which the first is in a fixed position, related to other locating or clamping jig’s component. A hierarchical tree is generated, using available components, having in each node a component which is assembled with a previous one using the above-mentioned connectors. Interference criteria is checked for selecting possible solutions only. A stop criterion related to the number of components in a branch is used, Solutions from the different branches are compared using the distances to an end component.