Faculty Research & Creative Activity
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
January 2009
Abstract
Rapid prototyping techniques for CNC machining have been developed in an effort to produce functional prototypes in appropriate materials. One of the major challenges for rapid machining is to develop an automatic fixturing system for securing the part during the machining process. The method proposed in this paper is the use of sacrificial fixturing, similar to the support structures in existing rapid processes like Stereolithography. During the machining process, sacrificial supports emerge incrementally and, at the end of the process, are the only entities connecting the part to the stock material. This paper presents methodologies for the design of sacrificial support structures for a rapid machining process and illustrates them using a complex sample part machined in the laboratory.
Recommended Citation
Boonsuk, Wutthigrai and Frank, Matthew, "Automated fixture design for a rapid machining process" (2009). Faculty Research & Creative Activity. 30.
https://thekeep.eiu.edu/tech_fac/30
https://works.bepress.com/wboonsuk/3/
