Hold Multiple Parts With NO CLAMPS! | Fixture Friday 16 | Pierson Workholding

On this week's Pierson Workholding Fixture Friday, Jay looks at how to hold multiple parts with no clamps at all!

With the part we machined in this episode, if you look at it closely, it would require five setups using traditional vise workholding. But in this week's Fixture Friday, we look at how we palletized the second operation to get eight parts per cycle without using a single clamp. Let's get started!

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Fixture Friday Series:
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00:00 Eight parts per cycle no clamps
00:35 Downside of 5-axis machining
02:15 Bolt-through pallet design
07:18 Outro
#FixtureFriday #Workholding #ProPalletSystem

[kchigley]

Something not mentioned, but is a great idea that it looks like you've used: It appears that the dowel holes in the part are offset slightly from the centerline of the threaded hole. Poke yoke...it can't be loaded backwards :)

[GoughCustom]

Love that you called this 'knifemaker style' fixturing lol. I have been machining G10 composite handle scales for my knives using this exact method for quite a few years. I have had ZERO issues with this style of clamping and it lets me produce handle scales where every single dimensional feature is done in one operation which is pretty amazing! I'm cutting the material to thickness and machining the underside features and clamping features in OP1 then I mount them to a pallet which is held onto the main fixture using Pitbull clamps in order to machine everything else in OP2. Works fantastically well!

I don't have any features that are dimensionally critical on the backside, so I just use 2x 1/4-20 SHCS to hold them down and roughly position them on the pallet.

Keep up the great videos Jay!
-Aaron

[billstrahan]

I am so happy to see Fixture Friday! I learn something each time and I’d love to see this type of thing every single Friday!! One can wish. :)

[metaltradesolutionsllc]

I'm a seasoned machinist and didn't really learn anything new but I watched the whole video. The way you can simply explain more complex topics is excellent. I wish I could communicate this well. Jay, are you naturally this good of a teacher or did you have to work at it?

[wst]

I really want to work there for the summer just once. I feel like I’d learn so much and have my mind blown even if I was just an operator

[glenndwyer]

Love the whole range, when you go from shop made fixters and vice work to a custom pallet system it opens up so much more, if you think out side the box

[DarkAeroInc]

Great video! With those feeds/speeds you can really crank through some parts. We will need to upgrade machines soon. 😎

[jonivanart]

I love watching these videos. I own a 1970 Bridgeport and even though I wouldn't be able to use all of this system. I offset my work with a 3D printer so it helps tremendously!! 👌 I hope to eventually grow my business enough to get a CNC and I will definitely give you a call to put in some orders. 😉

[cobraframebuilding]

Love the videos. Let's give the Rotovise some more love on this channel! I have the PPS and the Rotovise, and though they're both great products, the Rotovise is 100x more useful to *my* parts and part volumes. I think the PPS is really a winner with 3-axis work at volumes over 1000x per year, and almost nothing I make sees that volume at this time. But the Rotovise with the serrated jaws is transformative for reducing operations, still getting a solid number of parts in the machine at once, no custom fixturing expenses or time for each new setup, and it's also invaluable for prototyping and one-off work. If you do lower or medium volume work the Rotovise is a massive win, even if you don't need multi-axis -- just having more vises in the machine is great. Used in tandem with a Stop-loc ruler, you can't beat it for op1 mill work.

[MakeTechPtyLtd]

Jay, well done. Great advice! Beautiful product.
-Ken

[thedarkpill]

Very useful video, thanks! You are sharing a lot of 'proprietary' knowledge, much appreciated!

[SMCca]

One tip for people still using the standard part-in-vise and having troubles with op2 mismatch or part damage from overclamping due to unskilled labor or operator error... use inexpensive torque wrenches and specify settings in your setup sheets.

[NeoQJ]

Just had my own CNC today, although it’s a router, but I think similar method can be apply. Thanks for sharing 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[QurttoRco]

I mean if you run part like this then you get a multi pallet machine, worked with brother twin pallet myself love it, such a quick machine

[ArthurField]

Love your mindset man, thanks for sharing!

[aaronward]

I use this method to machine mold components. Best accuracy and accessibility!

[chauvinemmons]

Oh I got one Pink panther insulation that hasn't been sintered yet.
Heat shields for gas turbine engines.
We would literally hold it in our hand wherever you touched it if you blew Air at it but where your fingers were would fall out.
The parts we made were big thin and complex.

[jodygwiinn]

Use a paint market on vise draw line to tighten vise to consistant torq

[capnthepeafarmer]

I know an operator that can do quick change overs very fast, it's an ABB IRB4600 robot 😁😁

[hampfi]

Great video. Very interesting ideas!
So are you just machining the bottom features to clamp the part in op20?
Why not machine the complex corner rounding features in op10 and then clamp the parts with softjaws for op20? I think that would be easier then screwing the parts again and you can safe the excess operations. Also if you mount the op20 clamps on the same tombstone as the op10 parts you could safe the other pallet completely and take out 4 finished parts ever time the setup is run.