A novel modular fixture design and assembly system based on VR

Modular fixtures are one of the important aspects of manufacturing. This paper presents a desktop VR system for modular fixture design. The virtual environment is designed and the design procedure is proposed. It assists the designer to make the feasible design decisions effectively and efficiently. A hierarchical data model is proposed to represent the modular fixture assembly. Based on this structure, the user can manipulate the virtual models precisely in VIE during the design and assembly processes. Moreover, the machining simulation for manufacturing interaction checking is discussed and implemented. Finally, the case study has demonstrated the functionatity of the proposed system. Compared with the immersive VR system, the proposed system has offered an affordable and portable solution for modular fixtures design.