Design and Development of VMC Hydraulic Fixture for Casing Cover of Pump Housing

Abstract

The fixtures are work holding devices used to locate and clamp the position of workpieces for machining. The fixture set up for components when done manually consumes more time for loading and unloading the material. So, there was a need to develop a system that could help in improving productivity and time, hence hydraulic fixtures are preferred over manual clamping fixtures. Fixtures are generally used in large-scale production by semi-skilled operators; however, they are also used in small-scale production when interchangeability is important. The real-time application of the research reflects the fact that a real industrial component is taken for fixture designing. This paper presents the Design and Manufacturing of a Vertical machining center (VMC) Hydraulic Fixture for the component "Bearing Flange covering of Pump Housing" made up of “alloy steel casting”. In this Fixture link and compact cylinders are used. The fixture is 4th axis and pipe-less. Time calculation proves the fact that Fixtures improve productivity as it takes just 5 seconds to clamp and 3 seconds to declamp the job. This fixture is designed and built to hold, support, and locate "Bearing Flange covering of Pump Housing" and to ensure that it is drilled with accuracy.