Tag Archives: pro/e wildfire 4.0

Weld Tooling Design Company Introduces New Cost Saving Clamp Risers

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Lean Manufacturers Discover Time and Cost Savings in Their Product-Holding Fixtures With Clamp Risers by Rentapen

In the beginning of April, 2013 Rentapen Inc. launched new website pages for their line of clamp risers and spacers.  The clamp risers are made specifically for different brands of clamps including: Wolverine, Carr Lane, REID, De-Sta-Co, TE-CO, All American, and Jergens.   Each riser or spacer is tapped and drilled for mounting the designated clamp and uses counter bored holes for mounting the riser or spacer to the fixture or jig.

Rentapen’s design team has been designing and building weld fixtures for over 35 years. They realized they were designing the same clamp risers over and over again.  So Rentapen developed what is now called RAPid Risers™,  a line of tooling components that hold all of the finest brands of part holding clamps.  These standardized yet versatile risers save manufacturers time and money when it comes to the design and build process.

Wolverine Clamps3D CAD Models of the risers can be downloaded from Rentapen’s website along with informational PDFs that detail the design of the RAPid Riser™.

 “By focusing our processes and skilled talent on what we do well, we free-up our customers time, energy, and talent to be more powerful and productive with what they do well,” said Susan Straley,  President of Rentapen.  “That gives them peace of mind and contributes to their success.”

If a designer created a clamp riser from scratch, like Rentapen and all other machine tooling design companies used to do, they would have to go through a timely and expensive process that includes: designing the part; detailing; checking; ordering material; writing the CNC code; creating the part and finally inspecting the part.

This entire process takes about 77 minutes. Manufacturers are now able to download the 3D model from Rentapen’s website, save the model to their library, put the riser into their design, and order the block.   Once the model is in the company’s CAD library, the process approximately takes 4 minutes.  Rentapen’s RAPid Riser™ is saving the manufacturers as much as 73 minutes in design and build time.

 “The RAPid Risers™ are just another way for the fixture builder to save time and money on the design and build of weld fixtures or any other type of fixture,” said, Steve Pautz, Product manager at E.L. Simeth Co. a distributor of the clamp risers.  “The Clamp Risers is just one part of this unique design system that really works. E.L. Simeth Company, as the distributor for this line, has customers that use the complete line so we know that it works very well,”

RapidRisersRapid Tooling Components™ reduce the design cost of the fixture by eliminating the need to design, detail and check similar parts over and over again. Three dimensional computer models are provided by Rentapen Inc. that customers can use to incorporate into their designs.  These modular components are the new standard in weld jig and assembly fixture design.

Rentapen Inc., is the weld fixture specialist, and is home of RAPid Tooling Components. Rentapen Inc. has been providing machine tool design services to manufactures since 1976.  A Certified Woman Owned Business and owns RAPid Tooling Components™. For more information about Rentapen Inc., please call 262-542-8891.

3D Models of Tooling Components Assists in Growth of Weld Fixture Design Company As New Part-Holding Tooling Pieces are Added.

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Rentapen Inc., of Waukesha, WI, Continues to Expand the Number of Components and Product Parts Available for 3D-Model Download.

In January and March 2013, Rentapen Inc., a 3D CAD Design Company added several new components to its 3D-Model download web page, www.WeldFixtureComponents.com.

Rentapen Inc., offers a large custom line of RAPid Tooling Components™ that can be downloaded for free to help manufactures save time and money while designing and building their weld and assembly jigs and fixtures.  RAPid Tooling Components™ are a new American standard for the machine design Industry.

An alternative to NAAMS, Rentapen’s components along with the 3D models have changed how Machine Design Engineers and CAD Drafters design their weld fixtures.

 “In 2001 we discovered we, as weld fixture and assembly fixture designers, were designing the same parts over and over again.  So we realized if we standardized on those parts we could save our customers lots of time and costs.  So we created RAPid Tooling Components™,” said George Straley, Founder of Rentapen.

Rentapen Inc., has a total of 9 different types of RAPid Blocks™ that can be ordered to fit different tooling fixture needs.  In the beginning, customers would buy the RAPid Block™ and then if the block needed to be altered, they would place the part in their CNC or take it to another vendor. RAPid Blocks are often altered to add a hole in it to hold a locating pin or a rest pad or to chamfer a corner.   In 2011, Rentapen Inc., began to offer customized alterations to their RAPid Blocks™.

Rentapen Inc., manufactures each block as it is ordered.  This allows them to keep inventory low and provide a valuable service to their customers.  Rentapen Inc., will customize the RAPid Block™ per the customer’s specifications. “Need a chamfer? No Problem.  Need a hole for a locating pin?  No problem,” said Susan Straley, President of Rentapen.

Productuon Part Holding MachineryAll of Rentapen’s RAPid Tooling Components™ are made in the U.S.A. This is in line with Rentapen’s vision as the U.S. Leader in machine design and tooling components.  Rentapen is dedicated to reducing costs for manufacturers. And their free 3D service is greatly help manufacturers on their lean journey.

Rentapen Inc., is the weld fixture specialist, and is home of RAPid Tooling Component™s. Rentapen Inc. has been providing machine tool design services to manufactures since 1976.  A Certified Woman Owned Business and owns RAPid Tooling Components™. For more information Rentapen Inc., please call 262-542-8891 or visit http://www.rentapen.com.

 

6 Benefits to using Sub Assemblies in Machine Design

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Discover How Sub Assemblies Save a Ton of Time and Money in Machine Design.

Sub Assemblies in machine design are fun and easy and the really help save time and money in a lot of ways.  Once you learn how to use them efficiently you will see all kinds of places that they can be used.  Then, you can be the CAD wizard at your company!

A sub assembly is just a 3D CAD Assembly that is inserted into the Main 3D CAD Assembly in machine design.  If that sentence doesn’t make sense, keep reading and watch the video below to get a good idea of how Sub Assemblies are super tools for Machine Designers.

For example these Jergens Jig Feet along with RAPid Shims and manufactured risers are used several times in a fixture.  As sub-assemblies they save time, and unclutter the assembly drawing.

 

 

 

 

This configuration of RAPid Blocks and RAPid Shims is used in several places on a weld fixture.  Only the pin changes.

 

 

 

So this configuration, without the pin, is a good candidate for a sub assembly.
It will save engineering time to create it once in a Sub Assembly and then insert the Sub Assembly into the Main Assembly several times.

 

This goal post is part of a change over fixture.  A change over means that more than one product is welded within this fixture.  To “change over” the fixture to hold a different product, one sub assembly can be removed, and another sub assembly (or cover plate) can be put in its place.

In a fixture with lots of parts, it is easier for the machine assemblers to read the assembly drawing and assemble a machine when the drawing is less cluttered.

Benefits

1)      The Machine Assemblers will love it!  The drawings are easier to read.  There are less Balloons on the Main Assembly Drawing.

2)      It is easier to job out parts of the fixture to be made by contractors or machine shops.

3)      If sub assemblies are contracted out to be made, more people can be working to create the machine at the same time, moving the machine into production faster.

4)      Faster CAD design because the same sub assembly can be inserted several times into the main assembly.

5)      Assembly model checking time is reduced because each sub assembly only has to be checked once.

6)      The MAIN BOM can contain all the parts for the whole machine, just like always.

Numbering

It depends on your numbering system.  All parts in a sub assembly get normal part numbers.  Even the sub assembly gets a normal part number.  If a 3/8” jam nut is part 103, you can use part 103 inside a sub assembly and also elsewhere in the main assembly and it won’t be a problem.  The main Bill of Material will reflect the total quantity of parts both inside and outside the sub assembly.  And the Sub Assembly Bill of Material will contain only the quantity of part number 103 used in the Sub Assembly.

We find it helpful to use the words “sub assembly” in the name or description of the sub assemblies.  That way they are easy to identify in the BOMs.  Your company may use a special group of numbers for your sub assemblies.

Now discover how to get the Bill of Material (BOM) to show all the parts but balloon only the parts not in the sub assemblies!  Watch this short video.  (The demonstration is using Pro/E Wildfire 4.0. )

So the instructions for flattening  the Bill of Materials for the purpose of ballooning only those parts not included in the sub assembly is as follows.

Steps

  • Select Table from Top Menu
  • Select Repeat Region
  • Select Flat/Rec Item from the pop-up window
  • Select the Bill of Material (Table)
  • Select Default or Flat (to flatten the Bill of Material)
  • OR Select Recursive (to expand the BOM show the parts that are in the Sub Assemblies)
  • Select the sub assemblies in the BOM
  • Click OK or “Done”

Be sure to sign up to receive Education and Updates!  All people who sign up in April 2012 will receive RENTAPEN’s DOWEL HOLE GUIDE.

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Leave a comment below… tell me, do you use sub assemblies?  Why or why not?

‘Til next time…

The Queen

Giving College Students An Opportunity

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Rentapen Inc. gets recognized for their participation in Waukesha County Technical College’s Co-op/Internship Program.

WCTC awarded Rentapen with the Certificate of Appreciation for their active participation in the Co-op Internship Program.

Rentapen inspires and guides student-trainees for the potential workforce.


For example, Peter Christiansen is a student at WCTC who joined the Rentapen team as an IT Intern. Christiansen started interning at Rentapen in August 2011.

Christiansen is creating a program that will make it easier for jig and weld fixture design engineers to download 3D models of Rentapen’s RAPid Tooling Components™. The design engineers will be able to get 3D models that can be placed in their Computer Aided Designs (CAD). So now engineers who are designing weld fixtures can go onto Rentapen’s website www.rentapen.com and pull down a 3D model of a block, plate, clamp risers, or shim pack. From there, they can put it right into their Pro/E or Solidworks designs.

Christiansen is graduating with high honors from WCTC, with an Associates degree in program analyst and web/software analyst development. He is planning on joining the Rentapen team as a full time employee on December 20, 2011

“I’m excited to be done with the program and happy to contribute to the workforce,” said Christiansen.

Christiansen used to work in the Casting Industry as a quality control inspector, until he was laid off. Christiansen decided to go back to school for his Associates degree as a programmer analyst.

“We are pleased to have Peter join the Rentapen team full time. He is already familiar with the Manufacturing Industry and fixtures so its easy for him to understand our product line,” said Susan Straley, President at Rentapen Inc.

Rentapen is always introducing new product models to fit their customers’ needs. Christiansen will be in charge of making the product models available at Rentapen’s website.

Rentapen Inc. offers internships in design engineering, CNC operating, laser cutting, and information technology.

Jig or Weld Fixture Design — Five Items to Consider in V-Block Design

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Five items to consider when designing your V-block

In our last Jig or Weld Fixture Design blog we talked about different ways to locate a round rod or tube.   One of the more common ways is with a v-block.

Today we will discuss some of the questions that help you decide the material, modeling method using Pro/E  4.0, and fastener locations.

1)      MATERIAL  —

First decide what material you will need the v-block to be.

How much will the fixture be used?    That means knowing what the product is made of because we need the v-block to be strong enough not to wear down too quickly.  We want to be able to produce lots of product before we have to replace any of the parts in the fixture.    The more the fixture is going to be used the harder you need to make the v-block relative to the product tube or rod.

Do you need to plan for weld splatter?

If the v-block is located near the weld joint, you will need to consider using a metal that the weld splatter will not stick to as easily, or using a weld splatter shield.  Remember that like metals stick better.  So if you are welding steel, you may want your v-block to be Ampco 18 bronze or a hardened steel such as 4140 PH or A2.   If you are welding aluminum, hardened steel may work just fine.

2)      TOLERANCING –

Is the location of the rod or tube critical?

If the tube or rod needs to be located in just the right spot in order to work or assemble easily to the rest of the product parts, then you will want to design in adjustability with shim packs.  You will need to look at the product drawing and also know your customer’s preferences.

At Rentapen we design for many different customers.  So we have to consider the standards and preferences of each customer when we design.  Some of them love to shim every locator in a fixture.  Some of them don’t like to shim at all.   If you are a CAD drafter, you may be working under more than one designer.  Each designer may have their own preferences.  But it is up to you to look at the product drawing and then advise them when you think shims will be needed to meet the tolerances of the product drawing.   Then do what they say, they are your customer.

If it is a rough location, you may be able to use a purchased V-block from somewhere.  Do you have a favorite model or brand you would like to share?

3)      FASTENERS –

Once you have decided if your v-block will have shims to fine-tune its location before going into production, you can decide about the location of the fasteners.  If the tube or rod location is critical, you will need to use dowels to lock in the location.  If it is rough, you can just fasten the v-block directly to the base plate with screws.

4)      MODELING —

Locating the Vee in the v-block.

Here is how I model in the Vee cut.  Click on the video to see my method using Pro/E  Wildfire 4.0.

In this video I dimensioned the construction hole from the BOTTOM of the block.  However, the v-cut may fail if I make an adjustment too big in one direction or the other.  Some of the project engineers I have worked with prefer that the dimension for the V-cut be from the TOP surface of the block.  That way you can change the size of the block without having problems with the cut.

Some like to create planes that intersect at the center where the the construction circle will be located.  These planes are created before you start the sketch to cut the Vee.  I think your preference depends on your experience and how your brain works when making adjustments to parts while in the assembly.

5)      CLAMPING —

Clamping is a whole topic by itself that we will address in a future blog.  I just wanted to note that it is something that you need to think about.  We always clamp down our parts in weld fixtures, even if it is a table mounted fixture and gravity does its work.  You want to be sure that tube doesn’t move when the heat of the weld hits it.

 

And now I would like to share a couple of things with you.

First, Rentapen’s Holiday Greeting to our customers, vendors, students, and friends.

Second, we are in the news!  Check out the latest news at Rentapen by clicking here.

Till next time!

Susan Straley

The Queen of Lean Machine Design