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Fixture Net |
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RIOT HOME |
Modular Fixture Design for Polygonal Parts
AbstractThe Internet offers tremendous potential for rapid development of mechanical products to meet global competition. In the past several years, a variety geometric algorithms have been developed to evaluate CAD models with respect to manufacturing properties such as feedability, fixturability, assemblability, etc. Unfortunately, most of these algorithms are tailored to a particular CAD system and and so have not been widely tested by industry.The World Wide Web (WWW) may offer a solution: its simple interface language (hypertext markup language, HTML) offers a de facto standard for the exchange of geometric data with industry (e.g., during the design cycle) and research groups (e.g., to encourage verification of algorithms). FixtureNet is a feasibility study for such an interactive design system. FixtureNet enables anyone with a Web browser to submit a polygonal part specification. FixtureNet applies the Brost-Goldberg fixture algorithm to compute all valid solutions and returns the top 4 as ranked by a quality metric.
As a feasibility study, we believe FixtureNet offers a glimpse of the
future potential of the Internet as a resource for manufacturing and
design. This also suggests a new model for evaluating algorithms.
Generally those who develop an algorithm are the least qualified to
rigorously test it. The Internet provides access to an enormous
community of tinkerers who will be more than happy to discover flaws
in an algorithm (as recent publicity on Netscape security flaws
attests). The Internet is also a great way to disseminate research
results to academic colleagues, industrial users, and ultimately to
the taxpayers, who support the work directly or indirectly.
We are currently implementing a new, Java-enabled version of FixtureNet here at Berkeley. In the meantime, you can visit the original version of FixtureNet at http://teamster.usc.edu/fixture. 
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