A Vacuum Fixture Plate moves setup work off the machine table and onto a bench, so the spindle keeps cutting while the next job is prepared. The Vacuum Fixture Plate described here is built with a vacuum grid with sealed zones and specified for job shops running mixed batches. zero point clamping with modular workholding and tombstone fixtures sits behind the numbers below, which are stated as delivered rather than as a best case.
The parts that matter most are the interfaces: bores, sealing faces, threads and mounting patterns. Those are held to repeatability within 0.005 mm, verified against the drawing, and recorded before anything is packed.
Specification
| Process | Zero point clamping with modular workholding and tombstone fixtures |
|---|---|
| Material / configuration | a vacuum grid with sealed zones |
| Size / capacity | pallet sizes from 320 to 800 mm |
| Tolerance | repeatability within 0.005 mm |
| Surface finish | hardened and ground locating surfaces |
| Application | vacuum fixture plate for job shops running mixed batches |
| Inspection | Dimensional report, material certificate, first article report on request |
| Lead time | 7–15 working days for samples, 3–4 weeks for production |
| Minimum order | 1 piece for prototypes, from 50 pieces for production pricing |
Manufacturing process
The operation sequence is decided before the first chip is cut: roughing to leave even stock, semi-finishing, then zero point clamping with modular workholding and tombstone fixtures as the final operation. That order is what keeps repeatability within 0.005 mm stable as the batch runs and the machine warms up.
Material is purchased against a certificate and checked on receipt, so the composition is known before any cutting starts. Work in progress is identified by part number and operation, and the finished parts are deburred, cleaned and protected before they leave the machine area.
Typical applications
Most of the work supplied in this category falls into the following examples.
- Holding multiple small parts in one cycle.
- Machining five faces of a housing.
- Repeat batches on retained fixtures.
- Inspecting and re-loading without re-indicating.
- Heavy roughing with rigid clamping.
Quality control and documentation
Every batch is measured against the drawing with calibrated equipment, and results are recorded against the part number rather than kept on a scrap of paper.
Material certificates to EN 10204 3.1, dimensional reports and first article inspection reports are issued with the shipment where the application requires them. Calibration dates and measurement uncertainty are recorded alongside every result.
Ordering, lead time and packaging
Quotations are returned within one working day of a complete drawing package. Lead time is quoted from drawing approval, not from the date of enquiry.
Frequently asked questions
How much setup time does zero point clamping save?
Changeovers typically fall from 45 minutes to under 5, because the part is located by the receiver rather than indicated on the table, and the next fixture is built while the machine runs.
Is the repeatability good enough for tight parts?
Quality systems repeat within about 0.005 mm, which is sufficient to remove and re-load a part mid-process without re-establishing datums.
Do you keep tooling and programmes for repeat orders?
Fixtures, tool lists and verified CAM programmes are retained for the life of the part number, so a repeat release runs on the same setup as the first batch without a new proving run.
To discuss vacuum fixture plate requirements, send the model and the drawing with the quantities required. Feedback on manufacturability is given free of charge before any order is placed.
