Workpiece holding fixture for machining multiple prismatic parts
AssigneeFord Motor Company
InventorsRichard S. Stanifer, Michael Joseph Habel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A workpiece holding fixture including a base plate having an engagement surface including a travel slot. A first static riser includes a position control member configured to removably couple a workpiece to the first static riser. A second static riser includes a rotation control member and is configured to removably couple the workpiece to the second static riser. A dynamic riser is configured to abut the workpiece by automatic, semi-automatic, or manual movement into secure engagement with the workpiece. The dynamic riser is slidably coupled with the travel slot and is operable between a plurality of positions associated with workpiece variants having different locating features and geometries.
Claims20
A workpiece holding fixture comprising:
- a base plate having a travel slot, the travel slot defined by first and second rails;
- a first static riser including a position control member configured to removably couple a workpiece to the first static riser;
- a second static riser including a rotation control member and configured to removably couple the workpiece to the second static riser;
- and
- a dynamic riser configured to abut the workpiece, the dynamic riser being slidably coupled to the first and second rails and operable between a plurality of positions associated with workpiece variants having different locating features and geometries.
A workpiece holding fixture comprising:
- a base plate;
- first and second static risers engaged with an engagement surface of the base plate having engagement pins to securely engage a workpiece at predetermined locating positions;
- a dynamic riser configured to movably engage the workpiece in a first direction;
- and
- a transition device configured to electronically move the dynamic riser in a second direction along the engagement surface of the base plate.
A method of holding a workpiece for processing comprising:
- providing a base plate;
- securely engaging first and second static risers to the base plate;
- adjusting a dynamic riser into secure engagement with an unprocessed initial workpiece;
- engaging the first and second static risers with the unprocessed initial workpiece at predetermined locating positions;
- verifying proper engagement of the workpiece;
- and
- processing the unprocessed initial workpiece.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.