In 1986 Patco inventor, Richard Feltrin observed changes in the prototype manufacturing processes and noted as well the appearance of new tools and techniques. He then correctly predicted that a significant bottleneck in this prototype development phase would involve workholding procedures and techniques, that is, how prototype fixtures are designed and built, secured in place and used.

■ Holding the work in reference to the CAD data is critical.
■ Knowing exactly where the fixture is located is critical.
■ Holding the work in reference to the principal locating points is critical.
■ Replicating the tool holding in gauge repeatability is critical.
■ Holding the work in a functionally repeatable mode is critical.

Until the PATCO® Modular Tooling System, workholding or fixture building was a combination of art, tradesman’s technique and trial & error. Tradesmen spent as much or more time designing and fabricating workholding fixtures as they did analyzing products and processes—the absolutely critical activity. The PATCO® Modular Tooling System replaces dedicated fixtures and components with a re-usable, repeatable system.

The PATCO® Modular Tooling System
generates benefits in a wide range of pre-
production operations.
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LEARNING - CHANGING - LEARNING - CHANGING

The period from design to manufacturing is a period of learning, verification and, typically, making and implementing changes in design and the production process. Traditional “one-off” fixture builders face a dilemma: build a stable fixture optimal for extensive fit and function exercises or build a flexible fixture to accommodate inevitable product and process changes. The consequence of a wrong choice is costly. Costly in terms of wasting significant investment in a fixture or of a fixture being identified as the problem in a root cause analysis. In either case irretrievable time is lost.

A REVOLUTION IN WORKHOLDING

The PATCO® Modular Tooling System transforms this operational bottleneck into a predictable, productive phase while dramatically reducing man-hour involvement and project costs.
PATCO®’s modular design provides the means to construct stable fixtures while allowing for fast and flexible modifications.