Complex locating fixture system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11945082-B2
Application number	US-202017098854-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 16, 2020
Priority date	Nov 16, 2020
Publication date	Apr 2, 2024
Grant date	Apr 2, 2024

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for locating a pair of components relative to one another using complex surfaces. One component has a complex surface, where the complex surface is smoothly contoured. Another component is shaped to be connected with the first component. A fixture locates the first component relative to the second component. The fixture includes a locator with a complex surface region shaped to mate with the complex surface of the one component to locate the fixture relative to that component. The fixture includes another locator to locate the fixture relative to the second component.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A locating fixture system comprising:
a first component having a first complex surface, wherein the first complex surface is smoothly contoured;
a second component having a second complex surface, the second component shaped to be connected with the first component; and
a fixture configured to locate the first component relative to the second component using the first complex surface of the first component and the second complex surface of the second component, wherein the fixture includes a first locator comprising a complex surface region shaped to mate with the complex surface of the first component to locate the fixture relative to the first component,
wherein the fixture includes a second locator configured to mate with the second complex surface to locate the fixture relative to the second component;
wherein the first component and the second component are constrained relative to each other in six degrees of freedom by the first complex surface mating with the first locator and the second complex surface mating with the second locator with the second component located relative to the first component in position for assembly.

2. The locating fixture system of claim 1 , wherein the fixture comprises an additive manufactured built-up material with compliance tailored printed features that provide relatively lower compliance in at least one direction to target critical locating dimensions and relatively higher compliance in at least one other direction.

3. The locating fixture system of claim 1 , wherein the fixture is configured for portability by comprising a polymeric material and by being configured specifically for locating the first component and the second component relative to one another.

4. The locating fixture system of claim 1 , wherein the complex surface comprises at least one complex algebraic surface.

5. The locating fixture system of claim 1 , comprising a pin extending through the fixture and into the first component at the complex surface.

6. The locating fixture system of claim 1 , wherein the first locator comprises an elastically deformable structure and is configured to provide an elastic averaging effect in locating the fixture relative to the first component.

7. The locating fixture system of claim 1 , wherein the fixture comprises:
a third locator; and
an adjustment mechanism on the fixture and engaging the third locator to adjust a position of the third locator.

8. The locating fixture system of claim 1 , wherein:
the second component comprises a plural number of components each of the plural number of components shaped to be connected with the first component,
the first component comprises independent localized datum features specific to each one of the plural number of components,
the fixture comprises a plural number of fixtures each one of the plural number of fixtures configured to position a corresponding one of the plural number of components as it is added to the assembly.

9. The locating fixture system of claim 1 , wherein the fixture comprises an integrated sensor configured to monitor at least one parameter of the locating fixture system.

10. The locating fixture system of claim 9 , wherein the fixture comprises a magnet configured to hold the fixture to at least one of the first component and the second component, and wherein the parameter comprises an electro-motive force generated by the magnet.

11. A locating method comprising:
forming a first component with a first complex surface, where the first complex surface is smoothly contoured;
forming a second component with a second complex surface, the second component shaped for connection with the first component;
forming a fixture including a first locator comprising a complex surface region shaped to mate with the first complex surface of the first component;
forming the fixture to include a second locator configured to mate with the second complex surface to locate the fixture relative to the second component;
locating, by the fixture, the first component relative to the second component using the first complex surface of the first component and the second complex surface of the second component;
connecting the first component with the second component; and
constraining the first component and the second component relative to each other in six degrees of freedom by the first complex surface mating with the first locator and the second complex surface mating with the second locator with the second component located relative to the first component in position for assembly.

12. The locating method of claim 11 , comprising:
forming the fixture by additive manufacturing of multiple built-up materials where different the multiple built-up materials exhibit different stiffnesses to controls compliance in different directions.

13. The locating method of claim 11 , comprising:
forming the fixture of a polymeric material;
tailoring the fixture specifically to locate the first component relative to the second component; and
tailoring the fixture for portability for use in field service and repairs.

14. The locating method of claim 11 , comprising forming the first complex surface as at least one complex algebraic surface.

15. The locating method of claim 11 , comprising extending a pin through the fixture and into the first component at the first complex surface to constrain the first component.

16. The locating method of claim 11 , comprising:
forming the first locator as an elastically deformable structure; and
providing, by the first locator, an elastic averaging effect in locating the fixture relative to the first component.

17. The locating method of claim 11 , comprising:
adding a third locator to the fixture;
extending a screw through the fixture;
engaging the third locator with the screw; and
adjusting, by the screw, a position of the third locator.

18. The locating method of claim 11 , comprising:
integrating a magnet into the fixture; and
holding, by the magnet, the fixture to at least one of the first component and the second component.

19. The locating method of claim 11 , comprising:
integrating a sensor into the fixture;
monitoring, by the sensor, at least one parameter related to the fixture.

20. A locating fixture system comprising:
a first component having a first complex surface, where the first complex surface is smoothly contoured;
a second component having a second complex surface, the second component shaped to be connected with the first component; and
a fixture comprising an additive manufactured built-up material, the fixture configured to locate the first component relative to the second component using the first complex surface of the first component and the second complex surface of the second component,
wherein the fixture includes a first locator comprising a complex surface region shaped to mate with the first complex surface of the first component to locate the fixture relative to the first component,
wherein the first locator comprises an elastically deformable structure and is configured to provide an elastic averaging effect in locating the fixture relative to the first component,
wherein the fixture includes a second locator configured to mate with the second complex surface to locate the fixture relative to the second component,
wherein the first component and the second component are constrained relative to each other in six degrees of freedom by the first complex surface mating with the first locator and the second com

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Skurkis Richard J
• Brown Tyson W
• Smith Mark A
• Saez Miguel A
• Spicer John P

Classifications

• B25B5/14 Primary

  Clamps for work of special profile {(using chains or strips B25B1/205)} · CPC title

• B25B11/00

  Work holders not covered by any preceding group in the subclass, e.g. magnetic work holders, vacuum work holders (for holding or positioning work for welding, soldering, or cutting by applying heat locally B23K37/04; specially adapted to machine tools B23Q3/00) · CPC title

• B29C64/30 Primary

  Auxiliary operations or equipment · CPC title

• B33Y80/00 Primary

  Products made by additive manufacturing · CPC title

• B29C64/386

  Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing · CPC title