COMPUTER-IMPLEMENTED SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING SPATIAL LOCATIONS OF FIXTURE ELEMENT FIXTURING POINTS ON A PART TO BE MANUFACTURED

摘要

A computer-implemented method is provided for determining spatial locations of element fixturing points on a part to be manufactured. A model and a constraint volume for the part are retrieved, both comprising geometric representations respectively defining the boundary of the part and a region defined about the boundary of the part. Locations on the boundary of the part are identified against which to contact a plurality of fixture elements that are affixed to a base plate, each identified location being both reachable by at least one fixture element and situated where that fixture element will not interfere with a manufacturing tool's approaches to the part. A plurality of potential configurations are evaluated as exhibiting form closure over the part when fixtured by a select plurality of the fixture elements in contact with the part at the identified locations comprised in each of the potential configurations.