Dual-Dexterous-Vises: Preliminary design and tests of a flexible fixturing system

摘要

A new flexible workholding system is proposed and investigated in this study. The system is capable of holding a workpiece and revealing all of its six faces to a machining tool, without the need of many steps of re-fixturing, re-gaging, and tool resetting during a machining process. This Dual-Dexterous-Vises (DDV) system features two special vises arranged in perpendicular orientation. Each vise has rotary jaws such that a workpiece held in one vise can be rotated and have its four faces revealed to the cutting tool. Engaging the other vise and then releasing the first vise enables the revealing of the remaining two faces. Each jaw contains a set of conformable plungers so that a workpiece with complex shape can be clamped. By rotating and transferring a workpiece between the two vises, a cutting tool can access any position on the surface of the workpiece in one setting. A simplified test prototype was constructed and tested under real cutting conditions. Feasibilities of operational features were demonstrated. Improvements in positioning accuracy and issues in automation and integration with CNC machining processes are discussed. Besides machining, the system can also be applied in other manufacturing processes such as polishing, deburring, and welding.