Assessment of adhesive fixture system under static and dynamic loading conditions

Abstract

Adhesive fixture systems have several advantages over conventional fixturing methods due to the following key capabilities: (1) can hold components with increased workpiece accessibility for processing, (2) can hold delicate components while avoiding excessive clamping forces, and (3) can hold and support complex or variable geometry parts. The development of high-strength structural adhesives that can be rapidly and controllably cured now offers much greater scope for holding complex parts than the traditionally used low-strength adhesives, waxes, or low-melt alloys currently used in niche applications and ad hoc fixture systems. This article first evaluates the workholding performance, capability, and suitability of an ultraviolet-activated adhesive fixture system to hold aerospace-type components; this includes quantifying the mechanical properties of the adhesive bond and assessing the influential factors (surface finish, contamination, geometries of bonded surfaces, and adhesive-curing time). Then the article presents concepts of adhesive fixture system for rapid location and bonding/de-bonding for enhanced accessibility on machine surfaces. A set of fixture demonstrators and their effectiveness are evaluated in terms of maximum reaction forces, dynamic performance, and ease of use. From this research, it becomes apparent that the adhesive fixture system approach provides new opportunities for workholding geometrically complex components for high-demanding applications (e.g. manufacture of aerospace parts).