Workpiece holding fixture for machining multiple prismatic parts

• US 10,232,481 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2016
• Issued: 03/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Habel, Michael Joseph, Stanifer, Richard S., Manes, Kenneth W., Menard, John Wayne, DuFresne, Matthew Gerald
• Primary Examiner(s): Hall, Jr., Tyrone V
• Application Number:
  US15/091,051
• Publication Number:
  US 20170282319A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,078 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 1/035 with an array of longitudinally movable rods defining a reconfigurable support surface
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 1/037 comprising series of support elements whose relative distance is adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 17/0985 by measuring temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 17/20 for indicating or measuring workpiece characteristics, e.g. contour, dimension, hardness
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 3/062 adapted for holding workpieces having a special form or being made from a special material

Abstract

A workpiece fixture assembly is provided herein. The workpiece fixture assembly includes a baseplate including an engagement surface. First and second static risers are configured to maintain a position of a workpiece. The first static riser includes a first gage bore thereon. A dynamic riser is configured to abut the workpiece and has a second gage bore thereon. A numerical control machine has a probe to measure an offset distance between the first and second gage bores. A linearly actuable workpiece support is disposed on the baseplate.

Claims

1. A workpiece fixture assembly comprising:

first and second static risers removably coupling a first workpiece thereto, the first static riser including a first gage bore thereon;

a dynamic riser abutting the workpiece having a second gage bore thereon;

a probe to measure an offset distance between the first and second gage bores; and

a workpiece support including an actuable first member having one or more springs.

2. The workpiece fixture assembly of claim 1, wherein the dynamic riser is movable along a first axis and a second, intersecting axis.

3. The workpiece fixture assembly of claim 1, wherein the dynamic riser is placed in a predefined position along a travel slot based on the offset distance between the first and second gage bores.

4. The workpiece fixture assembly of claim 1, wherein the offset distance is adjusted between machining two workpieces to compensate for thermal expansion.

5. The workpiece fixture assembly of claim 1, wherein a position of the dynamic riser is verified by calculating the offset distance between the first and second gage bores after a machining process for the first workpiece and before a machining process of a second workpiece and the dynamic riser is repositioned when the offset distance is varied from a predefined distance.

6. The workpiece fixture assembly of claim 1, wherein the dynamic riser is movable along a linear path.

7. The workpiece fixture assembly of claim 1, wherein the dynamic riser is movable along an arcuate path.

8. A workpiece fixture assembly comprising:

first and second static risers engaging a workpiece, the first static riser including a first gage bore;

a dynamic riser abutting the workpiece having a second gage bore;

a numerical control machine having a probe to measure an offset distance between the first and second gage bores;

a linearly actuable workpiece support including first and second members supported by a baseplate; and

a sensor on the second member.

9. The workpiece fixture assembly of claim 8, wherein the first member is coupled to a contact plate.

10. The workpiece fixture assembly of claim 9, wherein the contact plate moves in conjunction with a first portion of the first member.

11. The workpiece fixture assembly of claim 10, wherein a second portion of the first member is extendable above the contact plate.

12. The workpiece fixture assembly of claim 8, wherein the sensor is disposed on a top portion of the second member.

13. The workpiece fixture assembly of claim 8, wherein the first member includes a central spindle having one or more springs disposed thereon.

14. The workpiece fixture assembly of claim 13, wherein the central spindle further includes one or more spacers disposed between the one or more springs.

15. The workpiece fixture assembly of claim 8, wherein the probe of the numerical control machine and a temperature sensor on a workpiece support simultaneously monitor thermal changes of a workpiece, the first static riser, and the dynamic riser.

16. A workpiece fixture assembly comprising:

first and second static risers coupled to a baseplate;

a dynamic riser movable along the baseplate, the dynamic riser positioned in a desired location based on an offset distance between the first static riser and the dynamic riser;

a linearly actuable workpiece support including an actuable first member and a stationary second member; and

a contact plate coupled to the first member and slidable along the second member.

17. The workpiece fixture assembly of claim 16, wherein the first member includes a first portion having one or more springs for actuating the first member through a plurality of positions.

18. The workpiece fixture assembly of claim 16, further comprising:

a temperature sensor disposed proximately to a top portion of the second member.