Workholding System is designed for fragile components.
Press Release Summary:
Suited for difficult-to-clamp components, FIXTURBLOK® uses metal alloy as fixturing medium to encapsulate components, distributing pressure points across surface. Fixturing metals used to form retaining block solidify at temperatures from 140-720ºF. After machining, component is released from fixturing medium by mechanical operation or melt-off process. Unit accommodates components measuring 1 x 1 x 2 in. to those over 2 ft in diameter.
Original Press Release:
Workholding System Increases Machining Rates Over 10X
Machining rates on any difficult-to-clamp or fragile components can be increased by more that 10X using the FIXTURBLOK® workholding system from FisherCast Global Corporation.
Metal alloy, used as a fixturing medium, encapsulates the component, distributing pressure points across the surface to allow it to withstand the heavy loads generated by high speed machining. The FIXTURBLOK system offers cost-effective, high speed machining solutions for components that are sensitive to surface damage (mirror finish), are very fragile or brittle, such as optical lenses or zirconium materials, or can't be subjected to a localized clamping force for a number of reasons.
A variety of fixturing metals can be used to form the retaining block holding the component. The choice of metal depends on the machining requirements. These non-ferrous alloys, such as tin-bismuth, lead and zinc, solidify at temperatures ranging from 60ºC (140ºF) to 380ºC to (720ºF).
Because the fixturing metals solidify very quickly, the encapsulated component can almost immediately be moved to the next production step. After machining, the component is released from the fixturing medium by a simple mechanical operation or a melt-off process. The fixturing metals are fully recyclable.
The configured metal retaining block encapsulating the component is compatible with robotic handling/machining systems. Because the energies created by the machining operation are distributed over a large surface area, machining rates can be dramatically increased, yet precise dimensional tolerances are maintained.
There are few size restrictions to the FIXTURBLOK retaining system - very small 25x25x50 mm (1x1x2 inches) difficult-to-hold components up to those over two-feet in diameter are equally accommodated by the fixturing process. Coding symbols can be easily molded into the FIXTURBLOK for part identification and disposition.
FisherCast Global Corporation offers a range of proprietary molten metal injection technologies for cost-effective manufacturing solutions. Hot chamber die casting techniques for zinc and magnesium alloys, and sophisticated tool design capabilities produce flash-free, net shape components. The Injected Metal Assembly(TM) process simplifies multiple-step component assembly to a single manufacturing operation. The Injected Metal FIXTURBLOK process, which uses alloy as a work-holding medium, allows increased machining rates of difficult-to-clamp shapes or materials.
FisherCast Global Corporation continues to expand its technology portfolio in the production of small zinc alloy and magnesium die cast components and assemblies to solve increasingly complex problems for its global customer base.
FIXTURBLOK® is a registered trade name of Fisher Gauge Limited.
