Blocks: Workpiece Supports
Blocks are the foundational elements in fixture design and are often mounted to a base plate, frame or backbone. They are precision machined components used to locate, support and sometimes clamp a workpiece in a repeatable, controlled position during the welding process.
Blocks – Delivering Control
Rentapen blocks serve three important purposes in welding fixtures:
Blocks establish a fixed reference point based on a fixture’s design. They control, X, Y and Z positions to prevent unwanted movement and ensure repeatable part placement
Blocks support parts to avoid deflection (unwanted warping or bending), distortion caused by welding heat, and vibration – especially valuable in robotic welding set-ups
Many blocks are used to mount tooling like clamps – with integrated clamping faces and threaded holes for mounting
RAPid Blocks™ serve as the versatile working interface between a fixture and the part. They are tapped through or counterbored on multiple faces so they can be flipped and assembled into varying configurations to locate or position tooling components.
Rentapen blocks can be created with a selection of hole types best suited to meet specified tooling needs:
Tapped holes – threaded for a screw or bolt
Counterbored holes – holes drilled with two diameters – one to fit the threaded part of a bolt, the second to fit the bolt head so it is flush with the block face surface
Drills – smaller holes for dowels/pins to slip into
Press Fit – holes that match the size of dowels/pins, requiring them to be hammered tightly in place
Slip Fit – holes with slightly larger diameters, allowing dowels/pins to “slip” in
Blocks come in a versatile selection of materials including:
1018 Cold Rolled Steel (Mild steel)
6061 Aluminum
300 Series Stainless Steel
Shims are frequently ordered along with blocks to allow for fine-tuning in the assembly of a welding fixture. Click here to learn more about RAPid Shim options.
Benefits
Rentapen blocks deliver confidence that tooling and parts are securely and precisely in the prescribed position for assembly or welding.
Requesting Block Quotes
Customers select the desired block configuration. Begin by selecting the prescribed unit (metric vs. standard) and the screw size. The screw size dictates many of the remaining configuration decisions. The range of block length limits are dictated by the specified screw size – selections can be made within that range. The hole sizes also dictated by the selection of the screw size. Select the hole type based on the specified need. Select desired material last, before submitting the configuration for a quote.
Click through the configuration selections and add quantities to create your quotable configuration:
Selecting & Configuring Blocks
Our proprietary automated RAPid Order Processing Systemä is fast and accurate. Through this system, customers can easily configure blocks based on standard types and then configure them to meet specified requirements. We can quote, cut and ship blocks – and eliminate the headaches of mistakes and delays.
RB00 8 hole
Four holes each located on opposing ends of the length face and top face.
RB00 4 hole
Four holes located on one end of the length face only.
RB02 8 hole
Four holes located at the far end of the top face, with four more centered on the end.
RB02 4 hole
Four holes centered on the end only.
RB03 8 hole
Two holes located on each end of the length face, with four more centered on the top face.
RB05 8 hole
Two holes located on each end of the length face, with four more spread widely on the top face.
RB05 4 hole
Four holes spread widely on the length face only.
RB11
This is a taller block with three holes centered on the top face, and with one hole centered on the length face. The length is selected by the customer. The width of this block is dictated by the size of the specified screws.
RB12
This is a taller block with five holes spaced across the top face and two holes widely spaced on the length face. The length and width of this block are dictated by the size of the specified screws.
RB16
This is a taller block with three holes centered on the top face, with one wider slot centered on
the length face. The length and width of this
blockare dictated by the size of the specified screws.
RB19
This is a taller block with five holes spaced across the top face and two slots widely spaced on the length face. The length is selected by the customer. The width of this block is dictated by the size of the specified screws.
