Tooling fixtures and other components help improve repeatability, increase accuracy, and reduce costs in manufacturing processes. Continue reading to learn about fixture plates and other versatile components that can decrease your bottom line and produce consistently better products.
What Are Tooling Fixtures?
A tooling fixture is a typically rectangular metal plate used to create locked-in mounting points for workpieces on machine beds. Its purpose is to support manufacturing operations with greater precision, interchangeability, and dependability of finished components.
Aluminum, cast iron, and steel tooling fixtures reduce production times by accommodating faster set-ups, and by streamlining part-to-part transitioning. Fixtures also decrease unproductive loading, unloading, and fixing times.
They also help to reduce skill requirements for operators by simplifying workpiece mounting processes and improving conformity through production runs.
Types of Tooling Components
There are various types of tooling plate fixture components used in manufacturing, including:
- Standoffs
- Tooling Plates
- Vacuum Components
- Locating Components
- Clamps & Other Holding Components
Let’s examine each type of tooling component to better understand their purpose and benefits.
Tooling Plates
A tooling plate, sometimes referred to as a fixture plate, is simply a metal plate with precise, grid-based threaded or unthreaded holes. They are mounted on machine beds and are available with an array of optional parts to support precise component positioning and manufacturing repeatability. Attaching and detaching components is fast and easy, allowing you to quickly change from one manufacturing setup to another.
Clamps/Holding
As the name suggests, clamping and holding components securely hold parts in perfect positions for machining. These components range from male centers to spring-holding devices to tension springs, each type providing a unique holding ability.
Locating
Locating components are devices that maintain a precise position of a workpiece in a work-holding setup. It’s imperative that the workpiece is affixed and immobile during machining to ensure precision. You may select between pin and button, cylindrical, conical, profile, and rest pad options.
Standoffs
Like spacers, you use standoffs to separate components when necessary. However, standoffs are typically threaded to allow them to be screwed in place, whereas spacers are not usually threaded. Types of standoffs include pin, magnetic, rotating, rounded, spring-loaded, tapered, and tooling ball.
Vacuum Components
Vacuum components safely, but firmly affix parts in place. These parts range from vacuum hoses to suction cups to various vacuum pump assemblies. These vacuum-assisted components improve setup repeatability and are suitable for multi-component machining setups.
Get Custom Fixtures & Components From Rayco
Rayco Fixture is a leading manufacturer of modular tooling plate fixtures and components for CMMs. When you turn to us for your CMM fixture plates and components, know that always customize it to meet your unique needs. If you need help selecting the right components or want to design a custom fixture, contact us today.