Research Initiation: Force and Deformation Analysis for Automated Fixture Design

本研究旨在为分析和优化夹具配置提供科学依据，从而在计算机辅助工艺规划过程中实现夹具的自动化设计。该方法的独特之处在于将夹紧力及其产生的变形包含在优化过程中。这将通过将工件几何形状抽象为零件和夹具的有限元模型来完成，以分析它们受到夹紧力的两个组件。最后阶段将是在优化模型的基础上对夹具的配置进行优化，该优化模型将作为该项目的一部分进行研究和开发。在加工过程中设计夹具来固定工件是工艺规划的一个关键方面，也是一个仍然在经验基础上进行的功能。科学的方法将使这一过程自动化，同时提高制造业的效率。

This research is to develop a scientific basis for analyzing and optimizing fixture configurations in a manner that allows for the automated design of fixtures during computer aided process planning. The uniqueness of the approach is the inclusion of clamping force and the resulting deformation into the optimization process. This will be accomplished by abstracting the workpiece geometry into a finite element model of the part and fixture to analyze both the components as they are subjected to clamping forces. The final stage will be the optimization of the configuration of the fixture on the basis of an optimization model that is to be researched and developed as part of this project. Designing of fixtures to hold the workpiece during processing is a critical aspect of process planning and a function that is still carried out on an empirical basis. A scientific approach will enable the automation of this process while improving the efficiency of the manufacturing sector.