Simplifying the Development and Usage of Fixtures for Sheet Metal and Composite Aircraft Parts

Based on a survey of small- to medium-sized companies that supply sheet metal parts to the major aircraft manufacturers, there is a need for a more simplified, flexible and inexpensive method to design, fabricate and register part fixtures used for CNC post forming operations (e.g., trimming, drilling). Consequently a method has been developed that bases fixture development completely on the CAD model, eliminates the need for datum surfaces and registration features on the CNC machine workbed, and makes fixture fabrication as easy and inexpensive as possible while still maintaining high geometrical accuracy. Practical implementation of this simplified method and an actual case study are discussed.