Witte has combined two fixturing systems to speed up the measurement of components, without the need to use special purpose milled components

Measuring fixtures cannot always be assembled exclusively from standard components. When complicated part geometry and/or special contact situations are involved custom-built workpiece adaptations are needed. Usually Witte Far East Pte Ltd (Singapore), manufacturer of modular fixturing system Alufix, supplies such custom-built components conventionally milled. In order to speed up manufacture of special parts Witte is taking advantage of rapid prototyping possibilities and utilising RapidFit from Materialise.

Pre-design of fixtures using standard components as far as the contact points takes place with Witte design software "Alufix Expert" then RapidFit takes care of the custom-built part supports. The geometry for the supports is calculated via Alufix Expert data. They are then materialised by laser sinter technology from a powdered basic material (thermoplastics) layer by layer. Arbitrary three-dimensional geometry can be produced, which often cannot be manufactured by conventional mechanical manufacturing processes.

Thus even extremely complicated contour parts are available within a short time. If part changes occur only the special laser-sintered parts need be exchanged, and they are redesigned, supplied and mounted very quickly.

(For further information contact: Sandeep Engineers, #129, 1St Floor, 6Th Cross, Bapuji Layout, Chandra Layout, Vijaynagar, Bangalore - 560 040. Tel: 080-23390076 / 2339 00811 Fax: 91-080-2339 0098. Email: sebvs@vsnl.net. Mobile: B V Shyam 093421-06498/A Venkatesh 093421-06499.)