A workholding fixture refers to any device that can be used to position and hold a workpiece to a tooling with the correct amount of force so that the machine can work on it without deforming the part. Having the right workholding fixtures to do the job is vital to performing the tasks you need to perform in your machine shop.
As time passes and technology progresses, the tools you can use are becoming more complex. You know what you want to accomplish, and there are specific tools that you can use to meet your goals. Having custom workholding can help you meet your goals more efficiently, as this will be a tool designed just for that purpose.
Types of Workholding Fixtures
There are several kinds of workholding fixtures that you can choose from. Some are simple, and some are more complex, and there has been a lot of research on how the design can be changed to meet different needs.
Vise Fixtures
A vise system is versatile and easy to use, so it is one of the more popular kinds of workholding fixtures. These are derived from traditional vises, but they have been adapted to be more precise so that they can work better. The flat, precision ground edges, along with the jaw design, make them ideal for many tasks where you need to have a tool that can perform a tight grip with strong clamping pressure.
Angle Fixtures
Angle fixtures are another kind of workholding fixture that is designed to hold a workpiece at a specific angle. Angle fixtures come with a hole grid that makes them easy to mount, and they are reliable and rigid. Because of their flexibility, angle fixtures can be used in a variety of situations.
Clamp Fixtures
There are several varieties of clamp fixtures, which come in several sizes and shapes. Some popular clamp fixtures include step clamps, toe clamps, and edge clamps.
Jig Fixtures
Another important kind of workholding fixture is the jig fixture. Jig fixtures can guide a cutting tool and locate it over the workpiece. One of the major uses for jig fixtures is drilling.
Creating Your Own Fixtures
These are just some of the different kinds of workholding fixtures. When designing your own custom workholding, it is important to decide what you want to use it for and what other kinds of tools it will be working with. Work with multiple solutions before coming to a decision so that you know you have chosen the best one for your specific task.
Explore Custom Workholding for Your Operations
At PAWS Workholding, we take pride in creating and delivering outstanding workholding solutions for a variety of clients across the nation. With 83 years of combined manufacturing process knowledge and experience, we can provide unique, practical products in a timely manner to meet your needs. If you need custom workholding to increase efficiency and productivity for your operations, we can help. Call (866) 686-7297 or contact us online today to get started.
