Methodical approach to fixture design in the milling of thin-walled mechanical components

The milling of thin-walled mechanical components presents unique challenges due to their low structural stiffness and high susceptibility to elastic deformation under machining and clamping forces. This study proposes a methodical approach to the design and validation of a specialized fixture system...

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Main Authors: Nguyen Thi Anh, Tran Thanh Tung
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-09-01
Series:Results in Engineering
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123025025873
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author Nguyen Thi Anh
Tran Thanh Tung
author_facet Nguyen Thi Anh
Tran Thanh Tung
author_sort Nguyen Thi Anh
collection DOAJ
description The milling of thin-walled mechanical components presents unique challenges due to their low structural stiffness and high susceptibility to elastic deformation under machining and clamping forces. This study proposes a methodical approach to the design and validation of a specialized fixture system tailored for such thin-walled geometries, with a focus on motorcycle gearbox housings. These components often feature complex contours, irregular wall thicknesses, and functional surfaces that demand high dimensional precision. To address these requirements, the proposed fixture incorporates profile-matching jaws and pneumatic clamping to ensure uniform load distribution, reduce deflection, and prevent localized stress on delicate wall sections. The fixture design was evaluated through finite element analysis (FEA) to assess stress distribution and displacement behavior under operational loads. Experimental validation confirmed that the fixture maintained positional accuracy, suppressed vibration, and achieved consistent machining quality. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed fixture system in improving repeatability, surface finish, and structural integrity during the milling of thin-walled components, offering a viable solution for high precision, high volume production.
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spelling doaj-art-03cbecdcb388433db0b2dd27ee209edc2025-08-20T03:32:00ZengElsevierResults in Engineering2590-12302025-09-012710651810.1016/j.rineng.2025.106518Methodical approach to fixture design in the milling of thin-walled mechanical componentsNguyen Thi Anh0Tran Thanh Tung1Faculty of Engineering Mechanics and Automation, VNU University of Engineering and Technology, Hanoi, Vietnam; Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Thuyloi University, Hanoi, VietnamFaculty of Engineering Mechanics and Automation, VNU University of Engineering and Technology, Hanoi, Vietnam; Corresponding author.The milling of thin-walled mechanical components presents unique challenges due to their low structural stiffness and high susceptibility to elastic deformation under machining and clamping forces. This study proposes a methodical approach to the design and validation of a specialized fixture system tailored for such thin-walled geometries, with a focus on motorcycle gearbox housings. These components often feature complex contours, irregular wall thicknesses, and functional surfaces that demand high dimensional precision. To address these requirements, the proposed fixture incorporates profile-matching jaws and pneumatic clamping to ensure uniform load distribution, reduce deflection, and prevent localized stress on delicate wall sections. The fixture design was evaluated through finite element analysis (FEA) to assess stress distribution and displacement behavior under operational loads. Experimental validation confirmed that the fixture maintained positional accuracy, suppressed vibration, and achieved consistent machining quality. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed fixture system in improving repeatability, surface finish, and structural integrity during the milling of thin-walled components, offering a viable solution for high precision, high volume production.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123025025873Fixture designCNC millingThin-walled componentGearbox HousingClamping system
spellingShingle Nguyen Thi Anh
Tran Thanh Tung
Methodical approach to fixture design in the milling of thin-walled mechanical components
Results in Engineering
Fixture design
CNC milling
Thin-walled component
Gearbox Housing
Clamping system
title Methodical approach to fixture design in the milling of thin-walled mechanical components
title_full Methodical approach to fixture design in the milling of thin-walled mechanical components
title_fullStr Methodical approach to fixture design in the milling of thin-walled mechanical components
title_full_unstemmed Methodical approach to fixture design in the milling of thin-walled mechanical components
title_short Methodical approach to fixture design in the milling of thin-walled mechanical components
title_sort methodical approach to fixture design in the milling of thin walled mechanical components
topic Fixture design
CNC milling
Thin-walled component
Gearbox Housing
Clamping system
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590123025025873
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