With the rapid development of manufacturing industry, CNC machining technology is changing with each passing day. Among them, the importance of fixtures as an indispensable tool in the machining process is self-evident. In the fields of precision machining, medical parts machining, mold machining, etc., choosing traditional fixtures or new intelligent fixtures often puts companies in a dilemma.
Traditional fixtures: classic and practical but limited
Traditional fixtures have long dominated the field of mechanical machining, and they have a deep application foundation. In some simple machining scenarios where the precision requirements are not particularly high, such as ordinary die-casting, traditional fixtures can complete the task well with their simple structure and low cost. It is relatively easy to operate, does not require complex programming and debugging, and workers can get started after simple training, which makes it still widely used in some small processing plants with limited technical levels.
However, the limitations of traditional fixtures are also obvious. When it comes to precision parts machining, especially CNC precision machining, traditional fixtures are powerless. Its positioning accuracy is limited, and it is difficult to meet high-precision machining requirements. Moreover, traditional fixtures lack flexibility. Once the shape and size of the processed product changes, the fixtures often need to be redesigned and manufactured, which is not only time-consuming but also increases costs.
New intelligent fixtures: technology empowers, but the threshold is not low
The new intelligent fixture is a product that has emerged with the development of science and technology, and has emerged in CNC machining and five-axis CNC machining. With the help of advanced sensor technology and automatic control technology, it realizes intelligent positioning and clamping. In the processing of medical parts, the new intelligent fixture can quickly and accurately adjust the fixture parameters according to the preset program to ensure the processing accuracy and quality of medical parts, greatly improving production efficiency.
The intelligent fixture is also highly flexible and can adapt to the processing of parts of various shapes and sizes. Through simple program adjustments, the clamping work of different products can be completed. In addition, it can also monitor various parameters in the processing process, such as pressure, displacement, etc. in real time. Once an abnormal situation occurs, it can issue an alarm in time and take corresponding measures, effectively ensuring the safety and stability of the processing process.
But the new intelligent fixture is not perfect. Its high price makes many companies discouraged. The cost of purchasing a set of intelligent fixture system may be several times or even dozens of times that of traditional fixtures. At the same time, the operation and maintenance of intelligent fixtures require professional technicians, which puts high demands on the talent reserve and technical level of the enterprise. If the enterprise lacks relevant technical support, problems encountered during use may not be solved in time, but will affect the production progress.
Faced with the dilemma of choosing between traditional fixtures and new intelligent fixtures, enterprises should not blindly follow the trend, nor should they be complacent. Instead, they should comprehensively consider their own production needs, technical level, financial status and other factors. For some companies with small production scales and low processing precision requirements, traditional fixtures may still be an economical and practical choice; for companies that pursue high precision, high efficiency, and have certain technical and financial strength, new intelligent fixtures may be the key to open the door to future development. Only by making the most suitable choice for themselves can enterprises be invincible in the fierce market competition.
