Development of a fixture-free machining center for machining block-like components

Abstract The cost of designing and manufacturing fixtures constitutes a major factor in the FMS-type unattended operation of machining centers. The efficiency of operation of an FMS can be enhanced greatly by the developing of a fixture-free machining center. The concept of such a “fixture-free” machining center for the machining of block-like components has been developed and is presented in this paper. This machining center, supported by an automated CAM capability, feeds bar-form material automatically and positions it for unattended machining of all of the six faces of block-like components.