A flexible fixture design method research for similar automotive body parts of different automobiles

Abstract

This article proposes a flexible fixture system design method for similar automotive body parts, which contains structure and locating control algorithm design of a flexible fixture. This flexible fixture system is composed of a base part, some locating units, and a control system, which can finish locating adjustments of end locating blocks or pins in three coordinate axle directions. Locating units contain adjusting mechanisms which can complete one horizontal direction and one vertical direction locating adjustments, and the control system can compute locating adjustment components of locating units and drive adjusting mechanisms of locating units to realize locating adjustments and clamping parts. The other horizontal direction locating adjustment is obtained through manually moving locating units along T-shaped slots in the base part. Finally, a flexible fixture system case for automotive body roofs is provided to demonstrate the flexible fixture structure and locating adjustment processes. It shows that the roof flexible fixture system can be adjusted for similar automotive roofs by its adjusting mechanisms and manual operation and then repeating fixture construction cost will be greatly decreased when a new automotive body is manufactured. This flexible fixture system can also be applied for other automotive body parts through some changes of a base part and locating units according to locating layouts of new parts.