Abstract:
Manufacturing industry faces several challenges
when manufacturing complex shaped components. One such
challenge is holding complex shaped components. For such
instances, various dedicated fixturing methods are used, reducing
the flexibility and increasing the initial cost in manufacturing.
Pin type fixturing methods are the dominating method of
fixturing for complex shaped components. But the point loading
from pin type fixturing methods can lead to surface damage
reducing the quality of the product. So various methods have
been introduced to reduce the negative effects from point loading.
Granular jamming is one such method that has been of recent
interest. The fixturing force granular jamming materials can
provide depends on various factors including membrane
properties. This research paper describes how the fixturing force
provided by granular jammed pin type method vary on the
thickness of the granular jamming membrane and how negative
pressure variation affect the fixturing force from granular
jamming. The membrane in this study is made out of latex using
simple dipping techniques. According to the results of
experiments carried out, fixturing force increases with increase
of thickness in jamming membrane and when negative pressure
is increased. Further, a novel configuration to increase fixturing
force with a tubular membrane mounted on two pins was
experimented. Experiments revealed that higher fixturing force
can be obtained through such a novel configuration.
Citation:
B. M. S. C. B. Balasuriya, H. W. P. Bhanuka, H. R. L. Sampath, A. L. Kulasekera and N. D. Jayaweera, "An Improved Fixturing Solution for Holding Complex Shaped Components," 2018 Moratuwa Engineering Research Conference (MERCon), 2018, pp. 555-559, doi: 10.1109/MERCon.2018.8421912.