Research And Development Of Checking-fixture And Clamping-fixture Design System For Automotive Bended Pipe

In automobile industry, demands for bended pipes and its quality standard increasedramatically. Currently the production methods for bended pipes are clamping fixturebending and quality examination with checking fixture after forming. Previously,clamping fixture and checking fixture is mainly designed by an experienced worker. Whenthe part is designed with three dimensions (3D) CAD software, many tryouts andadjustments are needed. And due to the unavoidable collisions within several models,some modifications on the design scheme are also of necessity, where there are a largeamount of operations like space transformations and repeated assemblies. Thus the designefficiency of these fixtures reduced a lot.This system adopts module file control point pickup method to improve the pipe linegeneration efficiency, and applies database, file reading/writing to store the miscellaneousparameters in pipe bending and examination processes. The application of self-recognitionand module technology integrates repeatable operations during the assembling, whichhelps to reduce the production cycle.The main tasks are as follows, establish standard parts library of clamping andchecking fixture with high reusability; rapidly acquire the control points of bended pipesto generate characteristic pipe line based on module file; apply minimum line andminimum container algorithm to get the best placement direction for working station; theapplication of self-recognition and module technology integrates repeatable operationsduring the assembling, and auto-match model sizes; applies database, file reading/writingto store the miscellaneous parameters in pipe bending and examination processes; generate2D blueprints suitable for manufacturing with CAD module. The user interface is alsoembellished. They all help to enhance the excellent user experience. This system is alreadyin use in the practical production of clamping and checking fixture design. And with its high efficiency in production, the factory in use is gaining profit from it.