I was approached last week by a guy I know about helping him weld parts together for a production run. We need to make 3 different tools that work together out of the 3 pieces provided. I made a jig to hold the parts in correct alignment for the center paddles.
The paddle goes on and the end spec gauge gets flipped down.
Then the handle gets postioned against the side guide and end gauge and locked down with the toggle clamp.
Last, the gauge gets flipped up out of the way and it's ready for the 5 welds.
I made another fixture for the fingers to be done 2 at a time to keep track of count. We need to make 1,000 of EACH part... I've since added the toggle clamps to this fixture too.
SShink said
Apr 13, 2011
Nice weld fixturing Mitch. Looks similar to what we used at Toro/Exmark only on a smaller scale.
What is the final application for the assembly?
Lost in the 60s said
Apr 13, 2011
Not sure, Stan. I was told to "make it look like the sample"...no blueprint, no specs or tolerances. It's supposed to be for gripping insulators from high-line poles, but I haven't seen a complete tool either. Really in the dark about it.
Dave Seitz said
Apr 16, 2011
Mitch at the end of the run the quick clamps are going to just flop off and on. That is the way to set things up for production runs though. If you can try and stand the fixture up so welding is vertical. It is faster and you, "if you have leathers" can sit while welding otherwise sore back from being bent over the table. Wait your a young guy who can do that stuff all day and party all night never mind. Good luck these are nice little side jobs to get and make some cash big but not to big. Working on getting one for myself tig welding stainless parts in fixtures.
Lost in the 60s said
Apr 16, 2011
Dave Seitz wrote:
Mitch at the end of the run the quick clamps are going to just flop off and on. That is the way to set things up for production runs though. If you can try and stand the fixture up so welding is vertical. It is faster and you, "if you have leathers" can sit while welding otherwise sore back from being bent over the table. Wait your a young guy who can do that stuff all day and party all night never mind. Good luck these are nice little side jobs to get and make some cash big but not to big. Working on getting one for myself tig welding stainless parts in fixtures.
I have the fixture clamped to a pallet on my fork lift. I can "adjust" the height to anything. I have a scooter to sit on with leathers for spatter but it is too low and my back and legs give out after a couple hours. Not sure where you got the impression I was "young". I have a 34 yr old daughter.
Not gonna make big money on this. I've done 518 pieces so far and have burned up 5 lbs of wire and 1/3rd tank of gas. I can see I'll have $100 in consumables invested besides all the time to build the fixtures. If the job comes around in the future again, I'll need more than .50 each.
I was approached last week by a guy I know about helping him weld parts together for a production run. We need to make 3 different tools that work together out of the 3 pieces provided. I made a jig to hold the parts in correct alignment for the center paddles.
The paddle goes on and the end spec gauge gets flipped down.
Then the handle gets postioned against the side guide and end gauge and locked down with the toggle clamp.
Last, the gauge gets flipped up out of the way and it's ready for the 5 welds.
I made another fixture for the fingers to be done 2 at a time to keep track of count. We need to make 1,000 of EACH part...
I've since added the toggle clamps to this fixture too.
Nice weld fixturing Mitch. Looks similar to what we used at Toro/Exmark only on a smaller scale.
What is the final application for the assembly?
Not sure, Stan. I was told to "make it look like the sample"...
no blueprint, no specs or tolerances. It's supposed to be for gripping insulators from high-line poles, but I haven't seen a complete tool either. Really in the dark about it.