PAAW technology is currently being used for applications, which share one or more of the following characteristics.
- Workpieces being held have high value and are subject to high value added manufacturing processes
- Part print tolerances are extremely tight
- Workpieces are geometrically complex
- Workpieces are geometrically variable
- Workpieces are excessively compliant
- Material removal processes are subject to chatter without adequate workpiece support
- Workpieces are subject to many different manufacturing processes, each of which must be carried out in a different machine tool
- Workpieces are difficult to hold using conventional fixturing, taking ten minutes or more for the operator to activate clamps and supports and use indicators to check for workpiece distortion
- Workpieces must be inspected in the free state condition
- Workpieces must be inspected in the restrained condition
The primary motivation for using PAAW technology in these applications is:
- Five sided access and in some cases six sided access to the workpiece
- Reduction of set up related workpiece distortion and datum establishment variability
- Reduction in total set up time
- Reduction of manufacturing process induced workpiece distortion
- Elimination of machining chatter
- Simplification of fixturing and reduction in fixturing cost
- Elimination of locating/restraining lugs from castings, and the need to subsequently machine them in subsequent set ups
End users have reported substantial cost savings in their applications due to significant reductions in overall process lead time and process scrap rate. They have also realized significant reductions in the fixturing cost due to the elimination of set ups and/or substantial simplification of fixture designs.