Anisotropic Shrinkage Variance in Glass-Filled Polyamide Secondary Tooling Nests
Secondary tooling nests for glass-filled polyamide accommodate anisotropic shrinkage through floating datum pins aligned with transverse contraction vectors.
Fixture Wear Plate
Meaning
Sacrificial mechanical component protects the primary structure of a tool from the friction and impact of repetitive loading. Integrating a fixture wear plate extends the operational life of expensive gauges and workholding devices. These plates are made from materials like hardened steel, bronze or specialized polymers.
Surface Protection
Hardness of the plate prevents the development of gouges and scratches on the main fixture body. When a fixture wear plate is used, it takes the brunt of the contact during the clamping and unclamping of the part. This prevents the loss of precision that occurs when locating surfaces degrade.
The plate can be easily replaced once it reaches its wear limit.
Maintenance Cycle
Regular replacement of the contact surfaces is a cost effective alternative to rebuilding an entire fixture. Because a fixture wear plate is designed for easy removal, downtime in the production cell is minimized. The thickness of the plate is often standardized to allow for quick swaps without recalibration.
In high volume environments, these components are inspected daily for signs of galling or deformation. Keeping the wear surfaces in good condition is essential for maintaining the repeatability of the measurement process. This proactive approach prevents the production of out of spec parts.
Precision Retention
Consistency remains high over the life of the tool because the critical datums are protected. A fixture wear plate ensures that the part seating remains consistent. Long term stability is the primary goal of this design feature.