German WS & M workholding fixtures, WS & M models, WS & M pricing

WS & M workholding fixtures are devices used during mechanical manufacturing to secure the workpiece in the correct position for machining or inspection; they are also known as jigs. Broadly speaking, any device used to quickly, conveniently, and safely mount a workpiece at any stage of the process can be called a fixture. Fixtures typically consist of locating elements (to determine the correct position of the workpiece within the fixture), clamping mechanisms, tool-setting guide elements (to determine the relative position between the tool and the workpiece or to guide the tool direction), indexing devices (to allow the workpiece to undergo machining at several stations in a single setup; these include rotary indexing devices and linear indexing devices), connecting elements, and the fixture body (fixture base). Examples include welding fixtures, inspection fixtures, assembly fixtures, and machine tool fixtures, among which machine tool fixtures are the most common and are often referred to simply as fixtures. When machining a workpiece on a machine tool, to ensure that the surface meets the technical requirements specified in the drawing regarding dimensions, geometric shape, and mutual positional accuracy with other surfaces, the workpiece must be properly located (positioned) and securely clamped before machining.

WS & M workholding fixture applications

Whether it is a simple hydraulic fixture or a complex integrated production line, the design process for hydraulic fixtures follows the same sequence: formulation of the overall scheme, selection of hydraulic cylinder types and specifications, selection of control valves, design of mechanical components, selection of pump station accessories, and system connection. Hydraulic fixtures provide powerful clamping and positioning forces for various machining processes. Yun Dongli cylinders are used for positioning and clamping in automated machining processes. Products such as self-centering vises and self-centering clamping elements provide accurate positioning, swing clamp cylinders and lever cylinders provide clamping force on the product, and support cylinders prevent deformation during product machining. From simple fixturing to robot-assisted machining centers, cylinders provide clamping and support forces to enhance production efficiency.

WS & M workholding fixture features

Mechanical grippers commonly use compressed air as the power source, achieving finger motion through a transmission mechanism. Based on the different motion trajectories of the fingers when clamping the workpiece, mechanical grippers are classified into: 1) Arc-opening type: Driven by the transmission mechanism, the trajectory of the finger tips is an arc. This type of gripper has strict requirements on the dimensions of the clamped area of the workpiece; otherwise, it may cause abnormal workpiece status. 2) Arc-parallel opening type: In this type of gripper, the two fingers perform parallel opening and closing motions during operation, while the trajectory of the finger tips is an arc. The illustrated gripper shows two cases where a parallelogram linkage drives the parallel opening and closing of the fingers. 3) Linear-parallel opening type: The motion trajectory of the two fingers in this type of gripper is linear, and the clamping surfaces of the two fingers remain parallel at all times. A cam mechanism is used to achieve the parallel opening and closing of the two fingers; inclined cam slots are machined into the sliding blocks of each finger. When the piston rod moves up and down, rollers mounted at its end move within the cam slots, achieving parallel clamping motion of the fingers. Alternatively, a rack-and-pinion mechanism can be used: when the rack at the end of the piston rod drives the gear to rotate, the racks on the fingers move linearly, causing the two fingers to open and close in parallel to clamp the workpiece.

WS & M workholding fixture classification

The mechanical gripping end-effectors used in loading and unloading industrial robots are mostly two-finger claw types. Classified by finger motion, they can be divided into translational and rotational types. Classified by mechanical gripping method, they can be divided into external clamping and internal expanding types. Classified by mechanical structural characteristics, they can be divided into electric (electromagnetic), hydraulic, and pneumatic types, as well as combinations thereof. 1) Vacuum suction type: Vacuum suction robot end-effectors use the suction force generated by negative pressure inside the suction cup to hold and move the workpiece. The suction cup creates negative pressure within a bellows made of soft rubber or plastic to hold the workpiece. This type of robot end-effector is suitable for handling large, thin, low-rigidity metal or wooden sheets, paper, glass, and curved shells. Depending on the application, the end-effector can be configured with a single suction cup, double suction cups, multiple suction cups, or specially shaped suction cups. Methods for generating negative pressure include: squeeze-type suction cups, airflow negative-pressure suction cups, and vacuum pump exhaust-type suction cups. Squeeze-type suction cups: Squeeze-exhaust suction cups expel all air from the cup by downward squeezing force, creating a negative pressure state inside to hold the workpiece. They offer advantages such as simple structure, light weight, and low cost. However, the suction force is not large, so they are mostly used for workpieces that are not too large in size, thin, and light. Airflow negative-pressure suction cups: An airflow control valve injects compressed air from an air pump through a nozzle, forming a high-speed jet that removes air from the interior of the suction cup, creating negative pressure to hold the object. This type is convenient and low-cost if compressed air is available at the worksite. Vacuum pump exhaust-type suction cups: These use an electromagnetic control valve to connect the vacuum pump to the suction cup. When the control valve evacuates air, the air inside the suction cup chamber is removed, creating negative pressure to hold the object. Conversely, when the control valve connects the suction cup to the atmosphere, the suction cup loses suction force and releases the workpiece. The suction force of vacuum pump-type suction cups mainly depends on the adsorption area of the suction cup and the degree of vacuum inside the q chamber (referring to the rarefaction of air inside the chamber). This type of suction cup is reliable and provides greater suction force, but requires a vacuum pump and airflow control system, resulting in higher costs. 2) Mechanical clamping type: The structure of a straight-bar dual-cylinder translational gripper involves mounting the gripper finger tips on a straight bar equipped with finger tip mounts. When pressurized gas enters the rod-side chambers of the two single-acting dual cylinders, the two pistons move toward the center, clamping the workpiece; when no pressurized gas enters, springs push the two pistons outward, releasing the workpiece. To ensure synchronous movement of the two pistons, a flow divider valve is installed in the cylinder intake line. This type of end-effector is used in loading and unloading assembly workstations.

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