Automated setup and fixture planning system for box-shaped parts

The topic of the research is related to the domain of computer-aided manufacturing process planning. This paper deals with the problem of setup and fixture planning for the machining of box-shaped parts on the horizontal machining centres. The setup and fixture planning involves the definition of setups, the setup sequence and conceptual design of fixtures for each setup. The central topic of this research is the automation of the conceptual design of fixtures. This topic is interconnected with the setup planning, and accordingly, the aim of the author has been the integrated handling of tasks of setup and fixture planning and the finding of solution in an integrated system. Based on the workpiece model, the developed system automatically determines the setup sequence, the content of setups and the conceptual solution of fixture for each setup. The paper presents the problems of fixture solutions and the partial tasks of workpiece holding, the typical solution of partial tasks and the conditions of their application and finally offers a new method, which makes the integrated handling of tasks of setup and fixture planning and finding solution in an integrated system possible.