Using pre-processing and indenting of contact interface to improve fixture clamping efficiency

Abstract

© 2019, Springer-Verlag London Ltd., part of Springer Nature. The goal of this study is to increase load capacity of interface contact between workpiece and machining fixture. Proposed methodology is based on pre-processing of contact interfaces and indenting the clamping elements into the workpiece. The pre-processing of workpiece/fixture contact interfaces is performed by microcutting. Applicability of the proposed clamping method has been verified by analysis, simulation, and experiment. Comparative analysis was performed for a conventional design of a clamping element with flat head, and a specially designed clamping element with ring-shaped head. In addition, clamping elements were comparatively analyzed regarding the different depths of the pre-established workpiece/fixture contact interface, i.e., for the different values of clamping forces as the result of contact interface pre-processing. Based on the results, it can be concluded that special clamping elements based on pre-processing and indenting of contact interface provide higher load capacity and lower contact interface compliance compared to their conventional counterparts, which are prevalent in today’s industrial practice. In addition, the proposed method uses lower clamping forces to achieve deeper indenting and higher tangential load capacity.