Fixturing is essential for quality results. This is true of automated manufacturing including machining, welding, assembly and inspection. "With the inspection process, the fixture may be necessary to present the product to the automated in-line inspection equipment," says Jim Vander Wal, president of Omni Structures (Ada, MI). "While many inspection machines like CMMs (coordinate measuring machines), vision-based equipment and other testing devises can adapt to some orientation differences, there will be a higher level of accurate and repeatable measurements if the part is held in a similar manner."
Fixturing for in-line processing ensures that a part is being checked the same way every time. Without a fixture, there is too much operator dependence on getting the parts inspected accurately and efficiently. "This in-line process helps to ensure that parts are inspected to print and any potential problems can be seen ahead of a complete shut down of a cell or line," says John L. Ray, president of R&R Sales and Engineering (Grand Haven, MI). "In-line monitoring utilizing inspection equipment and fixturing will streamline a company to be more adaptive and to give real-time data to the customer during this process."