The project team of Metrology Software Products (MSP) and BAE Systems, for the fixture, and Delcam, for the systems integration, has now achieved maximum benefits. Analysing production data of over 700 foreplanes, machining time has been reduced in excess of 60%, and part quality and production scheduling has been improved.
After a detailed study of the process, BAE Systems' engineers and machine tool and metrology experts MSP designed an innovative new process to solve the problems. Drawing on the experience of the team, the original fixtures have been replaced by a single vacuum fixture, which allows the part to overhang. This removes the need to turn the part over and all key areas can be machined in one operation. To complete the solution, manual alignment has been entirely replaced by a computerised fixturing process.
The heart of the new system is NC-PartLocator adaptive machining software developed jointly by MSP and Delcam. The foreplane now only needs roughly locating and the workspace alignment is automatically calculated, removing most of the manual set up and adjustments necessary in the old scheme. Even the alignment upload from the host PC to the machine-tool controller is automated using a high-speed data link.
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