Design and create a fixture to assist in the assembly of a fan-based product accessory. Bottom section needs to be constrained and elevated for ease of assembly, however fit should not be too tight to prevent damage to parts.
Began in Solidworks with model of the fan casing, created first prototype by offsetting the bottom surface to create a contour of the shape
First prototype was too tight a fit and over constrained the part, tolerances on the manufactured casing were low enough to cause significant fit differences
Created an adjustable contoured version, suffered similar issues
Moved to a more minimal design, supported the casing at the locations where pressure would be applied to the screws to minimize flipping tendency
After a feedback, added additional planes to better prevent a tendency to rotate
Finalized the design and created the fixture
Fixture with a casing
Fan assembly station
Final fixture design
Fan assembly fixture was used to assemble 50+ accessories for distribution to customers. The fixture reportedly made assembly quicker and easier.