Chris Borge, faced with having to rapidly produce a large number of units, learnt the importance of fixturing tools the hard way, when the strain of producing so many units led to mistakes in the manufacturing process.
Fixturing tools help to hold a workpiece in place while it is being machined.
His solution was to develop a 3D printed fixturing tool, onto which different plastic fixtures can be fixed, that can be used to hold metal components in place while a laser cutter does its work.
The 3D printed workplate has a grid of bolts feeding through it, with plastic fixtures slotting over the bolts to hold items in place.
The softer nature of the 3D printed plastic means it is easy to change the fixtures when needed, and also to create fixtures in unusual shapes.
In order to give the 3D printed fixture maximum stability, it is fixed into a wooden frame filled with concrete.
