January 2008 | Perfect symbiosis: Alufix and RapidFit

When complicated part geometry and/or special contact situations are involved custom-built workpiece adaptations are needed. Usually Witte , manufacturer of modular fixturing system Alufix, supplies such custom-built components conventionally milled. In order to speed up manufacture of special parts Witte is taking advantage of rapid prototyping possibilities and utilizing RapidFit from Materialise.

Pre-design of fixtures using standard components as far as the contact points takes place with Witte design software "Alufix Expert” then RapidFit takes care of the custom-built part supports. The geometry for the supports is calculated via Alufix Expert data. They are then materialised by laser sinter technology from a powdered basic material (thermoplastics) layer by layer. Arbitrary three-dimensional geometry can be produced, which often cannot be manufactured by conventional mechanical manufacturing processes.

Thus even extremely complicated contour parts are available within a short time. If part changes occur only the special laser-sintered parts need be exchanged, and they are redesigned, supplied and mounted very quickly.