A readers asks, "I am a fixture designer.... I am new at this job .... when designing a weld fixture in the CAD program should I allow any room between the holding pieces and the [product] parts?" Rentapen's Queen of Lean Machine Design explains how Rentapen designs for the real world while designing machine tooling inside the perfect world of CAD where 2.0000" means 2.0000".

— On 9/20/2012 I attended the IMTS show in Chicago.   IMTS stands for International Manufacturing Technology Show.  That means robots, clamps, cnc’s and more. This is a few minutes out of a full day of booths and walking and learning. You can learn more about the show by visiting the IMTS web site. ‘Til Next...

*** Revisions in Weld Fixture or Machine Design What is a revision in machine design?  It is a change to the production machine or weld fixture that is made after the drawings have been “released”. When the drawings are released that means the shop can start machining parts and putting the machine together.  So any changes to the drawing and design are now being made after the metal is formed.  Changes are even made after the machine...

Will 3D CAD Drafters Work Become Less About Drawing and More About 3D CAD Modeling? Increased integration of the design and build process through CAD/CAM, 3D printing, and file sharing between engineering and the shop has some businesses analyzing and even dropping their use of complete detailed drawings in machine design. What is your company doing to move forward and take advantage of the new technologies? I have found in the past that...

Seven questions to consider when investigating a new vendor for your weld fixtures. If you are a Manufacturing Engineering Manager, a Project Manager or a small business owner, you may find yourself looking for someone to design and build a weld fixture for you.  It is often cheaper than hiring and training someone to do the design internally.Now with digital media, it is easier than ever to work with companies that are thousands of miles...

How Sub Assemblies Save a Ton of Time and Money in Machine Design. Sub Assemblies in machine design are fun and easy and the really help save time and money in a lot of ways. Once you learn how to use them efficiently you will see all kinds of places that they can be used. Another post of Weld Fixture Design 101 by the Queen.

When do YOU Drive or Not Drive Holes in Machine Design?  When designing a fixture it is very helpful to drive the hole in part B by using the axis of a hole in part A that is fastened to part B.  And when is “Un-driving” that hole a good idea?           When should holes be “un-driven”? There are two times that I can think of right off the bat where a driven hole should be un-driven.  I mean...