Purpose
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FASTSUITE Edition 2 has a dedicated workbench to easily build a plate based fixture for a specific workpiece.
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The initial fixture is directly derived from the workpiece. It will be completed with modification steps of the individual plates and / or changing the number of supporting plates.
After creation the fixture plates are nested onto a sheet and exported, to be manufactured on a 2D laser machine.
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Steps
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1
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Preparation
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1.1
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If the workpiece document has not been loaded into the session, this step has to be executed. Search for the file B_Pillar.cenwpc at the installation folder of this manual.
If already open, the step can be ignored.
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1.2
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Switch to the Fixture Builder workbench.
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2.1
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Build the global fixture.
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The fixture will be tuned to meet the design intention.
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Several different enhancement commands are available, of which some will be highlighted in the next steps.
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3
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Modify the base plate
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3.1
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Change the position and orientation of the fixture base plate.
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3.2
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Change the size of the fixture base plate.
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3.3
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Change the thickness of the fixture base plate.
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1
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Start the Fixture parameters dashboard by picking the icon in the right dashboard toolbar.
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The dashboard window appears.
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2
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If not open already, click in the General parameters container field to open it.
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3
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Change the Base plate thickness value.
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4
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At the center of the Manipulator, open the Pie menu and pick the Recompute command to rebuild the fixture.
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3.4
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Change the diameter of the (mounting) hole in the base plate.
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3.5
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Create a text engraving in the base plate. For example a product number.
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3.6
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Modify an existing engraving in the base plate.
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3.7
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Move an existing engraving in the base plate.
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4
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Modify the support plates
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4.1
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Change the position of a fixture support plate.
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4.2
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Change the orientation of a fixture support plate with dragging the Manipulator.
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4.3
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Change the orientation of a fixture support plate with a given angle value.
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4.4
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Change the size of a fixture support plate.
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4.5
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Remove a fixture support plate.
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New support plates can be added to the fixture. Various possibilities are supported.
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4.6
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Add a new support plate with a given length.
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4.7
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Add a new support plate.
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4.8
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Add two intersecting support plates with a given length.
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4.9
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Add two intersecting support plates.
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4.10
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Split a support plate in two new plates.
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The design of the supports plates (and base plate) is managed over several different attributes. These attributes can be modified to change the global design.
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4.11
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Modify the plate design over its attributes.
The explanation video below shows an example.
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5
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Save the fixture
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Optionally the next three steps can be taken to set the name of the fixture. Then following after, the fixture will be saved on disk.
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5.1
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Switch to the Resource Builder workbench.
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5.2
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Give the fixture an appropriate name.
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1
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Start the Resource dashboard by picking the icon in the right dashboard toolbar.
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The dashboard window appears.
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2
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If not open already, click in the General container field to open it.
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3
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Define the name for the resource by picking the edit field and entering an appropriate name.
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Leaving the field or closing the dashboard will automatically confirm the change of name.
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4
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Other properties may be edited if wanted.
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5.3
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Switch to the Fixture Builder workbench.
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5.4
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Save the fixture.
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1
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Start the Save fixture command by picking the icon with the left mouse button.
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2
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A windows file browser appears.
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3
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Browse to the disk and folder where the fixture (resource) needs to be stored.
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4
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Accept the name of the fixture, default system name or already modified in the resource dashboard, or change it here when necessary.
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5
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Confirm saving the fixture by clicking on the Save button.
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Alternatively.
When the fixture geometry is needed for other CAx systems, it can be saved also in the formats Parasolid (x_b or x_t) and Step.
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6
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Nest the fixture plates
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All fixture plates are projected and sorted (nested) onto a 2D sheet. This information is used for manufacturing the plates, usually by 2D laser cutting, so that the fixture can be assembled.
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6.1
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Set the properties for nesting the fixture plates on a sheet.
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1
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Start the Nesting parameters dashboard by picking the icon in the right dashboard toolbar.
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The dashboard window appears.
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2
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Set the nesting values for spacing the plates and set the size of the nesting sheet.
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6.2
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Nest the fixture plates on a sheet.
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6.3
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Modify the nesting properties.
The explanation video below shows an example.
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7
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Save and export the nesting sheet(s)
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7.1
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Save the nesting.
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1
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Start the Save nesting command by picking the icon with the left mouse button.
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2
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A windows file browser appears.
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3
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Browse to the disk and folder where the nesting (workpiece) needs to be stored.
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4
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Accept the name of the nesting, default system name or already modified in the workpiece dashboard, or change it here when necessary.
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5
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Confirm saving the nesting by clicking on the Save button.
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7.2
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Set the properties for the DXF export of the nesting sheet.
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1
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Start the Nesting parameters dashboard by picking the icon in the right dashboard toolbar.
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The dashboard window appears.
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2
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If not open already, click in the DXF Export Options container field to open it.
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3
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Set the different options for the DXF export of the nesting sheet.
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7.3
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Export the nesting sheet to DXF for offline programming in some external application.
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1
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Start the Save nesting command by picking the icon with the left mouse button.
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2
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A windows file browser appears.
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3
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Browse to the disk and folder where the nesting (workpiece) needs to be stored.
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4
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In the option Save as type set the document type to 2D DXF.
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5
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Accept the name of the nesting, default system name or already modified in the workpiece dashboard, or change it here when necessary.
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6
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Confirm saving the nesting by clicking on the Save button.
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Be sure to save your data frequently.
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