Analysis of faces' accessibility for the purpose of modular fixtures design

Abstract

This paper describes the methodology for the identification of accessibility of faces of 3D model of the workpiece, for the purpose of its positioning and clamping, by use of developed software application. Software application is developed in SolidWorks environment with the purpose to design modular fixtures. Using the SolidWorks API, MS Excel, object-oriented programming language Visual Basic 6 and logic in the form of production rules and algorithms, the development of software application was executed. Identification of the accessibility of faces of 3D model of the workpiece is based on the identification of characteristic coefficients and generation of their values. The coefficient of accessibility of faces appears as a final result of conducted analysis of face's accessibility of the 3D model workpiece. The results gained from this software application are used to generate points for the positioning and clamping in the process of modular fixtures design. Developed software application provides mathematical notation of the face's accessibility for the adopted conditions and restrictions, which was verified on the particular workpiece.