Workholding Solutions and Workholding Fixtures
The Ahaus Workholding Department started in 1995, and we have built over 6,000 fixtures for the automotive, machine tool, valve, construction and other industries. We work with machine tool manufacturers, distributors, and users to meet specified requirements for positioning, placement, number of parts, deflection and machine forces.
MACHINING · TURNING · WELDING · HYDRAULIC · PNEUMATIC · MANUAL
Over 5,000 Workholding Fixtures Built
Machining and Turning Fixtures
Whether in manufacturing systems or in finished products, the integrity of a single part can determine success or failure. We specialize in the design and build of innovative and precise machining fixtures for horizontal, vertical, and 5-axis CNC machining centers. With our years of experience with Workholding fixtures for CNC machines, we can help you deliver the high quality machined components that your customers demand.
Ahaus has designed and built multiple turning fixtures for a variety of machine tools. From horizontal to vertical turning, Ahaus will utilize finite element analysis (FEA) to verify your fixture is balanced prior to mounting to the machine. Ahaus will tune your fixture using one of our coordinate measuring machines and test all functions to ensure proper operation prior to arriving to your facility.
Fixture Inspection
Ahaus has long been recognized for our quality workmanship. Those standards have not changed in close to 80 years as we have continued to invest in many types of stationary and programmable inspection equipment. We recently made an additional investment in a 1,800-square-foot climate controlled room for more precise and repeatable inspection of critical features. With this room, we have the ability to inspect our workholding fixtures, process required details, and turnkey run-off parts while also performing any gage R&R analysis. Quality has always been part of our mission here at Ahaus and we are committed to quality in our future.
Hydraulic Solutions
If you have a need for hydraulic workholding, Ahaus is the solution for you. Ahaus has built hundreds of hydraulic workholding fixtures for multiple industries. Ahaus has designed and built horizontal, vertical, 4th axis, and 5th axis fixtures for a variety of machine tools. With our dedicated fixture department and latest in inspection technology, you will receive a fixture that is ready to bolt to your machine and start producing quality parts
Pneumatic Applications
Do you have fragile parts that need a dedicated workholding solution? Pneumatic workholding utilizes the same techniques employed in hydraulic design and build, but with less force touching the parts. Our engineering department will utilize finite element analysis (FEA) to ensure your parts have minimal distortion during clamping. Our dedicated fixture department will ensure your fixture is ready to use prior to arriving at your facility.
Manual Clamping Solutions
If you have a parts that are low in annual volume but still require dedicated fixtures, let Ahaus develop a manual workholding solution for you. Ahaus engineers will utilize the same types of components as hydraulic workholding but with manual actuation. Collet arbors, clamps, and work supports are all available as manual components and will be used to ensure your part is securely held to the part datums and well supported.
The Ahaus Workholding Legacy
5 Keys to CNC Workholding Fixtures That Last
While there are dozens of ways to build a workholding fixtures department inside a traditional tool and die shop, in the mid-1990s Ahaus found a formula that has grown this segment of our business exponentially. The steps we have taken to invest in this portion of our business have resulted in a small, highly skilled team who build, runoff, and install over 200 fixtures each year. Here’s how we make it happen:
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Case Studies
Workholding Capabilities
Modern Workholding Solutions
Our inspection capabilities include:
- Three large CMMs for inspection of parts and assemblies
- Hexigon with 59” x 86” x 40” of travel, Renishaw PH10Q Probe Head, Renishaw TP200 Touch Probe and PC-DMIS Software
- Sheffield Endeavor with 80 in. x 48 in. x 40 in. of travel, Renishaw PH10Q probe head, Renishaw TP200 touch probe and PC-DMIS software
- G&L with 80 in. x 50 in. x 40 in. travel with indexable Renishaw probe
- One portable 6-axis Romer CMM inspection arm with a 48 in. radius to inspect machines, equipment, parts, etc., anywhere in the shop
- Setup to inspect customer parts during runoff to ensure that assembly or machining operations are producing parts to required tolerances
- SPC software to ensure achievement of statistical requirements
- Inspection tolerances to .0002 in. or 5 microns
- Climate-controlled shop to ensure critical manufacturing and inspection tolerances
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Leica Absolute Tracker AT500 by Hexagon
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The addition of the Leica Absolute Tracker AT 500 has increased our capability to ensure the quality of larger details that are too large to fit onto our CMM’s. The AT 500 also has an ultralong range capability that is beneficial in aiding with the building of some of our larger projects. The tracker will be available to take on the road for installations and service calls as needed. Along with the tracker we have an assortment of reflectors to gather measurement points from, along with the B-Probe Plus. With the B-Probe Plus, this gives us the capability to probe holes and features that might be out of sight of the tracker when using the reflectors.
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Integrated Testing
Using a test system may be the solution to confirm that your components pass capability testing. Ahaus has designed and built numerous test systems to confirm leak rates, failure modes, torque, and many other applications. PLC feedback can allow your facility to capture the test data output to track quality.
“I just finished dry running the fixture. Everything looks good. You guys did a fantastic job. I have yet to run a fixture like this where I have not had to trim a little here or there for clearance.”
APPLICATIONS MANAGER
National Machine Tool and Inspection Equipment Company
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