Designing the Flexible Jig and Fixture to Reduce the Production Time of the Excavator Buckets
摘要
This paper studies a flexible jig and fixture to support the production of the excavator buckets. In processing the buckets for big excavators, the operator should be equipped with jigs and fixtures to conduct the process of spot welding. The problem occurs when the jig and fixture need more space for the processes and the storage. This paper aims to propose a design of a flexible jig and fixture for processing the buckets that can minimize the production time. Based on the current jigs and fixtures, a flexible jig and fixture is developed to solve problems. The fixture design is equipped with movable pins that can be easily repositioned in the provided holes on the jig, corresponding to the type of bucket being produced. The production time has decreased by 17.65%. This approach can make the most of the limited workspace available.