Jig and fixture tables

[Kenny T Cornett]

I was browsing around on the Helsinki site looking at the various pictures of their car through fabrication and I discovered pics of their welding table.

Modular fixtures are no new thing to me, but I was really impressed with the level of flexibility they had. So I went looking for them online and found a couple different places that make them ( http://www.bluco.com/welding.php ).

To teams who have these, generally speaking, how many different components do you have and how much was your total package?

If you are in the dark about what I'm talking about... look at this...
http://www.formula.stadia.fi/HPF006_10_3_06/IMG38.JPG
http://www.formula.stadia.fi/HPF006_10_3_06/IMG43.JPG
http://www.formula.stadia.fi/HPF006_10_3_06/IMG33.JPG

[Kenny T Cornett]

I was browsing around on the Helsinki site looking at the various pictures of their car through fabrication and I discovered pics of their welding table.

Modular fixtures are no new thing to me, but I was really impressed with the level of flexibility they had. So I went looking for them online and found a couple different places that make them ( http://www.bluco.com/welding.php ).

To teams who have these, generally speaking, how many different components do you have and how much was your total package?

If you are in the dark about what I'm talking about... look at this...
http://www.formula.stadia.fi/HPF006_10_3_06/IMG38.JPG
http://www.formula.stadia.fi/HPF006_10_3_06/IMG43.JPG
http://www.formula.stadia.fi/HPF006_10_3_06/IMG33.JPG

[Kenny T Cornett]

Someone throw me a bone...

[rjwoods77]

When I called they said that a base table and equipment offered on their site was 26k.

Everything you see for 26k.

http://www.bluco.com/welding/catalogd16/d16.html

Its really nice stuff but its mad expensive. Its also in metric only which can pose problems because you will need to shim everything to touch your components which is a royal pain in the ass.

I'd check with these guys. You can get a 4x8x1 table with base, drilled and reamed 2x2 pattern of 1/4 holes, mattison ground (0.001"/ft accuracy) on sides and top for 5 grand. I am trying to raise the money this year for the next years team. Proper jigging is essential. I am also designing some "towers" for the 4 suspension corners and a universal v block that can be shimmed to the correct height for low lying crossbars. SO far it looks like a completed jigging assembly delivered to our door from michigan to buffalo for 10k. Not as nice as the blueco set either. You will have to press in locating pins into the blocks and table and then through bolt and nut with a 1/4-20 fastener for clamping but thats not a big deal. I'll take the other 15k and do something else with it. But it is all what you are looking for.

http://www.americangrinding.com/divisions/brute/

[JP Venturi]

Well i must say that that is pretty fancy.

This year we had a full frame jig, but for about 1/25th the price of that one. We got ourselves a laser cutter sponsor and had them cut bolt holes all along a 1/4 inch sheet of steel and then bolted our tubes down to it.

[fsae_alum]

A much cheaper (although ghetto) way to do it would be to:
1.) Take a 4' x 8' sheet of 1" thick MDF and make a steel base for it. makes for good pre-frame welding practice
2.) Place the MDF on top of the base
3.) Print out a top view of the frame in full scale on the school plotter
4.) Glue full size plan view of frame to MDF using spray adhesive and rollers to smooth out
5.) Scerw various lengths of 1" x 2" pieces of wood to the table to place the tubes where they need to be. Once all assembled, start tacking tubes in place.
6.) If you make your bulkheads planar, you can do the same things for your bulkheads. You can then use the template mentioned above to place them for welding as well

Total cost...less than $100

[Nima]

I am realy agree with fsae_alum, the art of engineering is to think and solve a problem in the easiest and chipest way. If you have a lot of sponsors and are able to do that, do what ever you want.

but fsae_alum!
is the mdf 1" thick, smooth enough to use for the fixture plate? I think a mdf plate is not sufficiant.

[fsae_alum]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">
but fsae_alum!
is the mdf 1" thick, smooth enough to use for the fixture plate? I think a mdf plate is not sufficiant. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Yes.....as long as you don't get the fiberboard type, it's actually smoother than plywood. Just don't get it really wet as it can turn to mush in extreme cases.

[BStoney]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by fsae_alum:
A much cheaper (although ghetto) way to do it would be to:
1.) Take a 4' x 8' sheet of 1" thick MDF and make a steel base for it. makes for good pre-frame welding practice
2.) Place the MDF on top of the base
3.) Print out a top view of the frame in full scale on the school plotter
4.) Glue full size plan view of frame to MDF using spray adhesive and rollers to smooth out
5.) Scerw various lengths of 1" x 2" pieces of wood to the table to place the tubes where they need to be. Once all assembled, start tacking tubes in place.
6.) If you make your bulkheads planar, you can do the same things for your bulkheads. You can then use the template mentioned above to place them for welding as well

Total cost...less than $100 </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I am not sure if this is the best option...combining unexperienced welders, or even experienced welders for that matter... this is a fire hazard at best. I would recommend seeking out the sponsorship and spending time to do things right the first time (i.e., a nice fixturing table, or at the very least, a steel plated table top...)

Regards,

[rjwoods77]

Another thing to consider is gettting an optical table. They are very stiff for their weight, usually have a dead accurate threaded hole pattern and they can be had for $1000 used. I considered getting one but I want to get something that isnt going to break or get damaged easy. If you are careful with your fab then this is the hot ticket.