Fixture Design Tool with Enhanced Input/Output Interface Capability and Internal Graphical Correlation/Reconciliation Of Engineering Data

Aging fleets, increased mission demands, shrinking sources, and declining technical skills are driving the United States Air Force to evaluate better methods to obtain repair parts for its depot sustainment mission. One promising solution is organic manufacturing of critically needed assets when commercial sources are not economically or timely available. This solution typically requires reverse engineering of parts, fixturing, and processes. The time and cost to design and correctly build the needed fixtures, jigs, and assembly aids are seriously limiting factors to the broad depot mission. This project develops a Manufacturing Technology System for automating and speeding the design and manufacturing process. Innovative technology coupled with standardized design methodologies developed from the best design concepts from senior engineers provide a productivity leveraging tool interfacing to the designer to his world. Multi-view graphical packages facilitate data manipulation and speeds design. Re-useable design libraries and fixture family rule sets increase the designer's quality and productivity. Innovative technology permits productivity improving interface with third party systems and software. Highly flexible, user changeable features give the designer rapid adaptability of historical designs and changing manufacturing conditions. An electronic "decision aid" for the fixture design engineer is the final product of Phase II initiative.