Workholding Principles

Part 3
Sources:

Jigs and fixtures handbook, Carr Lane

Jig and fixture design, Hoffman

Fundamentals of tool design, SME

Tool Design, 3331

Dr Simin Nasseri
Southern Polytechnic State University

Locator Types

Locator Types
1.

External (Fixed and Adjustable):

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

2.

Integral,
Assembled,
Pins,
Commercial Pin (Plain and Shouldered),
V-type,
Locating nests,
Sight.

Internal:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Machined internal,
Relieved,
Diamond pins,
Floating locating pin,
Conical,
Self-adjusting locators,
Spring locating pins,
Spring-stop buttons.
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External locators

External locators are used to position a part by their external surfaces.

Fixed locators:

Solid locators that establish a fixed position for the part.

Adjustable locators:

Movable locators,
Used for rough-cast mainly,
Used for parts with surface irregularities,
Used in conjunction with fixed locators to permit variation in part sizes.

Fixed External Locators

Fixed Locators

Integral locators:

Machined into the body of the workholder,

Least preferred type of locators because of:

Additional material required to allow for the machining of the locator

(wasted material),
the time which takes to machine the locator,
The problem of replacing the locator if it wears or becomes damaged.

Fig 4-19, SME

Fixed Locators
Assembled pins:

Made of tool steel,

Hardened to prevent wear,

Similar to integral locators but:

they are replaceable,

Using them does not require additional material for the tool body.

May be used as locators or supports.

Fixed Locators
Pins:

Simplest and most basic form of locating element (specially round

pins),
Either made from steel drill rod or purchased commercially,
Location and number of the pins are determined by following the 3-2-1
principle.

Locating pins without shoulders:

(Round, bullet, plain, conical)

Locating pins with shoulders:

(plain, round, bullet, dowel)
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Fixed Locators
Commercial pins (have two types of plain or shouldered):

are made between 0.0005 to .002 in (0.013 to 0.051 mm)

under size (to prevent jamming).

The installed end of these pins generally is 0.0625 in

(1.588 mm) smaller than the location end to prevent
improper installation.

are made in the following styles:

press-fit: installed directly into the tool body.
slip-fit: used along with liner bushings (installed into the

tool body).
A lock screw is used to hold the pin in place.

Fixed Locators

V-type:

Suitable for a cylinder as well as a prism.

Made up of two perpendicular plates.

X
Z

How many DOF are restricted by this v-type locator?

The workpiece has 5 DOFs as shown in blue color,
so 7 DOFs are restricted:
1- Small pin restricts the part in z direction,
2- Horizontal plane limits the motion in Y direction
as well as rotations about X axis,
3- Vertical plane limits the motion in X direction as
well as rotations about Y axis.
Hence, the pin takes 1 DOF,
The horizontal plane takes 3 DOFs,
The vertical plane takes another 3 DOFs.

Y
5 DOFs for the part,
7 DOFs are restricted

-Z
X

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Fixed Locators
part

Locating nests:
Feature a cavity in the workholder
device into which the workpiece is
placed and located,
No supplementary devices such as pins
are normally required.
Made of plastic, plastic material+ metal filler and also low-melt alloy
(Study page 102).

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Fixed Locators
Locating nests

part

Disadvantages:
1.

Since the workpiece is completely

surrounded, It is difficult to lift out of the nest.

Solutions 1: the workholder can be turned over and

the part shaken out.

Solution 2: ejector pins can be used (which will add

time to the processing).

2.

The operation performed may produce burrs that tend to lock the part
into the nest.

3.

Chip from the operation may lodge in the nest and must be removed.

4.

In case of polymer or low-melt alloy, a prototype of the part is required

to make the locators or jig.

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Adjustable External
Locators

13

Adjustable Locators
Adjustable locators:
Movable locators,
Used for rough-cast mainly,
Used for parts with surface irregularities,
Used in conjunction with fixed locators to permit
variation in part sizes.

Types:
Threaded,
Spring pressure,
Equalizing.
Adjustable locators as well as adjustable supports are
available.
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Adjustable Locators

Adjustable supports are positioned beneath the workpiece.

Threaded
adjustable
supports

15

Adjustable Locators

Spring-type adjustable
supports are used to level
the workpiece.

Rather than using threads to

elevate the locator a
secondary threaded element
(such as thumbscrew) is
used to lock the position of
the spring support.

Fig 4-36, SME

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Adjustable Locators

Adjustable locators also can be used as a clamping device. (The

position of the locator is not critical and this reduces the cost).

Threaded adjustable locator

Check also: Fig 4.33 and 34 SME, Adjustable locators with lockout or screw
17

Adjustable Locators

Equalizing supports
are used to insure
constant contact of
the supports and
workpiece,

They are self

adjusting,

As one is depressed,
the other one rises.

Single operating
point

Fig 4-37, SME

18

Internal Locators

19

Internal Locators
They are Locating features, such as holes or bored
diameter.
Types:
Fixed size

Made to a specific size to suit a certain hole

diameter
Include machined, commercial pin, and relieved
locators

Compensating (types are Conical and self adjusting)

workpiece

Fig 4-39, SME

Used to centralize the location of a part or allow larger

variations in hole sizes.

Relieved (Example: Diamond pin)

Provide minimum contact between the workpiece and

locating pin.
This reduces the chance of the locator jamming or
sticking in the part.

Fig 4-41, SME

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Internal Locators
Diamond pins:
Used for radial location in
conjunction with round locating pins,
Provides more accurate radial
location,
The bearing surface of the diamond
pin must be positioned to restrict
movement of the part.
In some cases, the part is completely
located using two diamond pins.

Diamond Pins are relieved, to locate only radially

around the round pin, avoiding redundant location.
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Internal Locators
Floating locating pin:

Provides precise location in one axis while allowing up to 0.125 in

(3.18 mm) movement in perpendicular axis.

The body of the locator is pressed into the tool body.

It is referenced to the tool body and both the fixed and movable
axes with a roll pin.

This pin should be used for parts with looser locational tolerances
of the mounting holes (permits greater variation in comparison to
diamond pin)

Roll pin

Floating locating
pin

The floating pin prevents any radial movement

about the round locator.

Fig 4.44 SME

22

Internal Locators
Conical locators (cone locator pin):

Medium-accuracy tapered locating pin,

Centralized locators that compensate for variations in

part sizes as well as centering a part in the
workholder.

Types (Fig 4.46 SME):

Spring loaded (a)

Threaded (b)

Used as external locator with a conical cup (c)

See also Fig 4.46, SME

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Internal Locators
Self-adjusting locators:
Used in applications such as sand casting (great variation in the
size of the holes to be located),

Fig 4.4, SME

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Spring Locating Pins

Rotation of the pin

Spring inside
the pin

Applies spring force to hold the work

piece against its locators.
This will ensure proper contact during
the clamping operation.
Their small size and compact design
make them useful for smaller parts.
Protective rubber seal around the
contact pin helps seal out debris and
coolant.
Carrlane link
25