A lot of fixturing decisions depend on what kind of situation you are in. Is everything a one off or are you in production? Do you only program or do you have to run the machine as well? Is there someone that could load and run a program if needed? Do you need to run multiple parts in a sample?
Assuming that you're in a production environment having a couple of fixture plates and components is a very good thing. You could have all your fixtures assembled and then swap out programs very quickly. With a fixture in a reasonably repeatable location, you don't have to do any kind of manual alignment. This means that someone with minimal training could run parts. With a big enough fixture and some semi-clever programming you could run all your samples without having to stop, thus allowing you to get other things done. Figure out a way to put the time savings in money and project it out for a year or two. Management only understands money.
BTW, if you are in a machine shop you can create your fixture plates and components.
A lot of fixturing decisions depend on what kind of situation you are in. Is everything a one off or are you in production? Do you only program or do you have to run the machine as well? Is there someone that could load and run a program if needed? Do you need to run multiple parts in a sample?
Assuming that you're in a production environment having a couple of fixture plates and components is a very good thing. You could have all your fixtures assembled and then swap out programs very quickly. With a fixture in a reasonably repeatable location, you don't have to do any kind of manual alignment. This means that someone with minimal training could run parts. With a big enough fixture and some semi-clever programming you could run all your samples without having to stop, thus allowing you to get other things done. Figure out a way to put the time savings in money and project it out for a year or two. Management only understands money.
BTW, if you are in a machine shop you can create your fixture plates and components.
1 off and production. I program and run the program. I am a 1 man show. Not very often do I run multiple parts.
Management here is the most conservative I have ever worked with. They do not spend money. They wont even pay for calibration. I have no issues with saving a few bucks but there comes a point you just got to spend some to get what you want.
I am in a machine shop. I have done that but there is no material to build much. Again they do not spend money so the odds and ends material just is not here.
