3D Printed Jigs and Fixtures Can Help Boost your Productivity

Liuzhou JingDa Automotive Brake Tube Manufacturing Co., is a leading supplier for SAIC Motor for break tubes for both Micro and Passenger cars. Mr. Bian, the technical director of JingDa, says that 3D printing is certainly having a tangible impact on how break tube engineers create solutions that improve the effectiveness of production lines while enhancing the effectiveness of the tubes.

Everything JingDa does with 3D printing revolves around aiding in one or more of three benefits: quality, productivity, and increased effectiveness. In fact, those pillars are arguably at the core of any factory around the world.

Here’s a look at JingDa Automotive’s brake tubes. There are 6 sorts of brake tubes, at least, required on every single vehicle, some require 8 kinds or more. Each and every tube needs test fixtures to measure them to see if they’re in spec.

Traditional brake tube fixture

 Traditional fixtures can’t test these tubes quickly enough. They also can’t test them accurately according to the key position and the tortuosity of the brake tubes. The quality and the precision that FDM 3D printing brings to the table can satisfy the conditions required.

Traditional brake tube fixture

In order to complete a whole project in one week, the company will need 2 sets of 3 meter long fixtures to inspect a fixture line. To complete this task Jingda reached out to Deed 3d printing company. With more than 40 Stratasys Fortus printers, Deed3D have very short turnover time. Indeed the delivery of the fixtures was completed within 5 days.

ABS-M30 material printed on Stratasys 900MC printers, 500mm to 800mm length model.

Comparison between CNC and 3d printing fixtures

mode of production	Original CNC Production	Stratasys FDM 3D Printing
Production Method	After each independent inspection fixture is completed, all inspection fixtures are fixed on the substrate by means of bonding.	Print in one piece, or print in sections, and then fix it on the substrate.
Cost	The cost of the two methods of production is not very different
Time	The production time is long, it is difficult to control the delivery period, and it will affect the project progress.	The turnaround time is short and controllable. It can be controlled according to its own production schedule without affecting the project schedule.
Production difficulty	The more curved detection parts will make the production of the inspection fixture difficult and the accuracy difficult to control.	The degree of bending of the product has nothing to do with manufacturing difficulty, and the accuracy is easy to control.
Accuracy	Low accuracy caused by splicing fixture	Accuracy is much higher than the customer requirement
Data requirements	2D projection + height marking	3D data, need to redraw
Convenience	Heavyweight solid material, inconvenient to use	Sparse printing, lightweight, easy to use