Decoupled fixturing strategies for minimized geometrical variation during cutting of stamped parts

Abstract

Fixturing strategies during the different stages of manufacturing of a part strongly affect the final geometrical outcome on both part level and assembly level. Different manufacturing setups, processes and operations allow for, and put requirements on, the fixturing strategy. In this article, different fixturing strategies during cutting of stamped sheet metal parts are discussed and evaluated with respect to minimized variation in critical features. The strategies are discussed from a theoretical point of view. Geometrical decoupling philosophies are used to minimize the number of variation sources during cutting. The strategies are also illustrated using an industrial case study consisting of laser cutting of a stamped sheet metal part. Some general guidelines, based on the results, for fixturing during sequences of operations are formulated. In this article, fixturing during laser cutting followed by fixturing during assembly are in focus, but the strategies should be generalizable to other sequences of manufacturing operations as well.