Fixturing

ETW has been manufacturing special cutting tools for over 60 years. Many times we are forced to design our tooling around a fixture that was already designed and built. This would force us to have to make tooling even longer than usual due to clearance issues. In 1996, we decided to also begin offering fixuring to our customers as well.

All of our fixtures are designed around the piece part, keeping tooling in mind as well. ETW will always start out with the 3D solid model of the piece part. If one cannot be provided, we will create this ourselves. We then start constructing the fixture around the piece part and around the tooling. In many cases, we will be able to design the fixture and process it in such a way, that we can reduce the amount of special tools needed for the machining process. This allows the customer the ability to use as much standard tooling as possible.

During the design process, a 3D model of the fixture is available for customer review at any time. This file can be converted to a format in which the customer can read, or, put on our FTP server for retrieval.

All of the tooling will be simulated during the designing process to ensure that there are no interferences. Even the standard tooling will be simulated during design process to check out clearance issues. Simulation will eliminate any possibility of the need for the fixture to be modified in the field, or worse, having is sent back for rework.

The philosophy of ETW is that the customer should be able to mount the fixture on the machine and start producing product the same day without any surprises. Because of ETW's advanced manufacturing process, there is no need for any detailed drawings to be produced. We do, however, supply a 3D model complete with all the components and piece part to be imported into the customer's CAM software to aid in the programming process. Detailed drawings of certain components can be supplied at an additional charge. Please discuss this with the sales staff.