The adage “Time is money” is truer now than ever. This expression is universally applicable in the business world but is especially true in the welding and manufacturing industries. In welding and fabrication, you cannot sacrifice quality for speed. The success of your shop depends on the implementation of these three aspects of service: speed, quality, and availability, explained Artem Komarov.
The modular attachment system can help you achieve this trinity. Consisting of a ground, flat welding table with a surface of precision-machined holes for attaching clamps and components anywhere on the tabletop, a modular fixture can impact your ability to easily adapt to a range of jobs. It can also provide consistent quality with a shorter lead time, which helps control costs and provides more accurate, customer-friendly, and error-free pricing.
The real benefits of modular fastening are adaptability and repeatability. Parts must be mounted securely and accurately to ensure dimensional accuracy during the welding process and to prevent distortion of the finished weld.
A well-designed fixture provides stable and repeatable performance, making it suitable for temporary work, work with many components, prototyping, and one-off jobs. The modular mount is also useful for high volume repetitive jobs.
The more familiar you are with your Modular Clamping Table, the better it will help you quickly produce quality and accurate welding.
Here are some tips for creating a fixture tailored to the requirements of each unique weld.
Consider table size. Consider the size of your table surface. Make sure it is large enough to hold and secure the weld properly.
Determine the location of the fixture. If the weld is small, it may be best to place the fixture close to the edge of the table so that you can more easily access it.
Make sure the weld is square. It’s a good habit to align the two perpendicular sides of the weld with fixed stops so you know that those first two sides will line up with the holes in the countertop. The rest of the fixture can be installed with adjustable fasteners so you can compensate for the fasteners moving over the hole pattern in the countertop.
Consider re-removing welds. If you are working with repetitive welds, consider how quickly and easily the finished weld can be removed to speed up production. Depending on the size of the weld, you can slide or lift the finished part off the table. If you are removing it from a table, make sure all the latches are in the same direction, either inside or outside of the parts.
Modular Mount Guide
Be sure to lift the workpiece off the table using shims or stops to place all workpieces at the same height, provide better access to weld joints, and minimize heat transfer to the tabletop to maintain its durability.
Simplify tack welding. When setting up a fixture, make sure it provides access to all welds so that you can tack weld at the same time. In cases like this, a rotary positioner is a great option for accessing welds as the tabletop can be positioned for optimal access.
Don’t forget the clamp. The simple placement of parts up to a fixed stop does not replace their fixation. The clamp will help you achieve accurate welding and prevent deformation during cooling.
Choose a modular installation. When choosing a modular clamping system, choose a system with detachable individual plates for unlimited clamping possibilities, especially when you need to remove the plates in the center of the table to access welds or when you need to increase the width or length of the table to hold large welds. Always think about how the system will allow you to do more complex work to expand your capabilities and grow your business, Artem Komarov emphasized.
