Fixture Designer

Summary

Responsibilities

• Custom Fixture Engineering: Develop specialized manual, hydraulic, and pneumatic fixtures for 3-axis, 4-axis (including HMC tombstones and rotary setups), and 5-axis simultaneous machining operations to meet rigorous production targets.
  
• Collaborative Design Reviews: Lead and participate in comprehensive design review sessions to present structural strategies, coordinate with production teams, incorporate feedback, and obtain necessary technical sign-offs prior to tooling fabrication.
  
• Technical Documentation: Generate and finalize fixture models and detailed 2D engineering drawings, applying Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerance (GD&T) standards per ASME Y14.5 and conducting tolerance stack-up analyses to ensure repeatable alignment within micron-level specifications.
  
• Process Engineering Support: Partner with production and process engineering departments to draft, evaluate, and refine manufacturing process sheets, ensuring tooling capabilities align seamlessly with operational workflows.
  
• Financial Oversight: Estimate, track, and control the engineering and material budgets for fixture projects, ensuring all hardware, fabrication costs, and custom components remain within established financial constraints.
  
• Supply Chain Coordination: Monitor the procurement lifecycle, delivery schedules, and lead times for raw materials, standard tooling accessories (such as zero-point grids, swing clamps, and locating elements), and commercial parts to ensure timely availability for production schedules.
  
• Interference Analysis: Perform thorough 3D kinematic simulations within native CAD environments to identify and eliminate potential collisions between fixture components, workpiece blanks, tool assemblies, and machine spindle paths during multi-axis rotational movements.
  

• Educational Background: A Technical Diploma or Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Production Engineering, Tool & Die Design, or a comparable technical manufacturing discipline.
  
• Professional Experience: 2 to 6 years of focused experience specifically in designing and modeling CNC metalworking fixtures. Candidates with backgrounds in generic sheet metal, automotive body-in-white (BIW), or aesthetic product design will not be considered.
  
• Software Proficiency: Advanced expertise in 3D modeling platforms (e.g., SolidWorks) and associated 2D manufacturing drafting suites.
  
• Machine Knowledge: In-depth understanding of Horizontal Machining Center (HMC) pallet interfaces, 4th-axis rotary alignment, 5-axis tilt-table limits, and associated structural load dynamics.
  
• Material Science: Strong judgment in selecting fixture materials (such as Cast Iron grades and Tool Steels) and determining appropriate heat treatment processes like case hardening, nitriding, or stress-relieving.
  

Preferred Technical Additions

• Experience collaborating with CNC programming teams using CAM simulation software (such as Mastercam, NX CAM, or Vericut) to validate models.
  
• Familiarity with the design of pneumatic or hydraulic manifold pressure valve layouts.