Interactive Fixturing System Using Commercial CAD System

상용 CAD 시스템을 이용한 대화식 치구 설정 시스템

Most of previous research on machining process planning has not fully included consideration on fixturing. With fixture components properly assembled with the part workpiece in a CAD modeling environment, necessary geometric information of fixture elements and their interrelations with the part model can be obtained so that machining process plans could incorporate fixturing considerations. This paper introduces an interactive fixturing system called I-Fix. I-Fix is a dowel-pin based modular fixture system, and it has been developed using Solid Edge CAD system and Visual Basic. Through customized operations of the assembly commands of the CAD system, I-Fix significantly simplifies user operations and thus reduces fixturing time. Furthermore, I-Fix enhances user convenience by providing general guidance about the fixture components and fixturing methods.