Fixturing Systems

[inspector212]

What kind of fixturing system do you have? What are the benefits and the drawback for it?

We are looking to buy one and I need some input. We measure metal and plactics.
All input will be appreciated.

[tking]

Rayco Mfg here.

TK

[#2#]

My fixturing system includes the following:

Various C-clamps
1-2-3 blocks
v-blocks
parallels
double faced tape
hot glue
super glue
assorted nuts and bolts
some chunks of wood
various plumbing fixtures and pipe
a few pieces of 1"X1/2" steel bar

Basically anything I can find that looks like it might work

I've never used duct tape but I've got a roll handy just in case.

You did say "all input"...

[tking]

My fixturing system includes the following:

Various C-clamps
1-2-3 blocks
v-blocks
parallels
double faced tape
hot glue
super glue
assorted nuts and bolts
some chunks of wood
various plumbing fixtures and pipe
a few pieces of 1"X1/2" steel bar

Basically anything I can find that looks like it might work

I've never used duct tape but I've got a roll handy just in case.

You did say "all input"...

Oh, vice grips, seriously!

TK

[Wingman]

Rayco. Excellent stuff. $$

I have also used OMNI. I prefer Rayco.

The Spring Clamps are Great but can be weak if you want to restrain 'some' plastic parts. Adjustable risers are GREAT. They have a wide variety of risers, tips clamps, toggles, springs, vacuums available to nest practically anything.

[#2#]

Oh, vice grips, seriously!

TK

I'll add them to my list.

I also forgot a plain old vise. I've also got a 3 jaw chuck mounted so it points in the z-plus direction for holding round parts.

Seriously, I've found one of the best ways to fixture a part that has a hole in it that doesn't need to be measured is to put a stud in the table and then find a piece of pipe just long enough to cover most of the stud. Then, just put the part over the stud, spin on the nut and tighten it down. Viola, your part for all intents and purposes is 'floating' above the table with plenty of room around it to access whatever features you need on all sides but the bottom.

[JamesMannes]

My fixturing system includes the following:

Various C-clamps
1-2-3 blocks
v-blocks
parallels
double faced tape
hot glue
super glue
assorted nuts and bolts
some chunks of wood
various plumbing fixtures and pipe
a few pieces of 1"X1/2" steel bar

Basically anything I can find that looks like it might work

I've never used duct tape but I've got a roll handy just in case.

You did say "all input"...

I use what goodluck uses plus some dedicated fixtures.

I do have a funny story of sorts. So I am at a user group meeting a couple of years ago, and these two gals are at my table eating lunch. We start talking shop, the gals ask what we use for fixturing and I tell her all the stuff above. She then says that they use, get this...

LEGOS!!

They work in plastics and they super glue the parts to the LEGOS and away they go. That was the most bizarre fixturing device I have heard of. But, if it works, what the heck.

[#2#]

In one rare instance when I had a part that had very few flat surfaces other than those I needed to measure...

We've got a system for making those foam inserts for packing boxes. I put one of the parts in there and it made a quick fairly stable mold of the part that I could just set the parts in. I also included a piece of plywood that the foam stuck to so that I could clamp it to the table.

I'd imagine you could do the same thing with plaster or concrete if you wanted a more rigid and durable mold.

[#2#]

I use what goodluck uses plus some dedicated fixtures.

I do have a funny story of sorts. So I am at a user group meeting a couple of years ago, and these two gals are at my table eating lunch. We start talking shop, the gals ask what we use for fixturing and I tell her all the stuff above. She then says that they use, get this...

LEGOS!!

They work in plastics and they super glue the parts to the LEGOS and away they go. That was the most bizarre fixturing device I have heard of. But, if it works, what the heck.

Hey, that is a really good idea. I'm adding legos to my list too.

[Underspec]

Custom in-house built aluminum and delrin plastic fixtures

[Paul Sarrach]

I also use Sine Plates and Mandrel with assorted Collets

[inspector212]

My fixturing system includes the following:

Various C-clamps
1-2-3 blocks
v-blocks
parallels
double faced tape
hot glue
super glue
assorted nuts and bolts
some chunks of wood
various plumbing fixtures and pipe
a few pieces of 1"X1/2" steel bar

Basically anything I can find that looks like it might work

I've never used duct tape but I've got a roll handy just in case.

You did say "all input"...

I did, thank you.

We use all of the above plus whatever else we can find.

Have you used rubber bands to hold down plastic parts? They work really well, if they are thick enough. Screw a stud(enter joke here) into the table put a nut on top, one on each side of the part. Stretch the band from one to the other over the part.

[inspector212]

I use what goodluck uses plus some dedicated fixtures.

I do have a funny story of sorts. So I am at a user group meeting a couple of years ago, and these two gals are at my table eating lunch. We start talking shop, the gals ask what we use for fixturing and I tell her all the stuff above. She then says that they use, get this...

LEGOS!!

They work in plastics and they super glue the parts to the LEGOS and away they go. That was the most bizarre fixturing device I have heard of. But, if it works, what the heck.

Does that include the little people too?

[why me]

Rayco Mfg here.

TK

Ditto here with allot of 1-2-3 blocks V-blocks of various sizes. Vises lots of vises

[JamesMannes]

Does that include the little people too?

hUH?