LOCATING PRINCIPLES

AND LOCATORS
 LOCATORS
 To perform properly, workholders must accurately and
consistently position the workpiece relative to the cutting
tool, part after part. To accomplish this, the locators must
ensure that the workpiece is properly referenced and the
process is repeatable.

 The devices that restrict a workpiece's movement are the

locators. The locators, therefore, must be strong enough to
maintain the position of the workpiece and to resist the
cutting forces.
BASIC PRINCIPLES
 Positioning the locator
 Accuracy & tolerances

 Fool proofing

 Duplicate location

 Motion economy
POSITIONING THE LOCATOR
 Locators should contact the work on a solid and stable
point:
 This permits accurate placement of the part in the tool &
ensures the repeatability of the jig and fixture
 Position the locators such that they contact the
workpiece on a machined surface. The machined surface
usually offers a more-stable form of location.
 Proper spacing of locator is necessary
LOCATING GUIDELINES
LOCATING GUIDELINES
ACCURACY & TOLERANCES
 The workpiece itself determines the overall size of a
locating element.
 Locators must be made to suit the MMC
(Maximum-Material Condition) of the area to be located.
(The MMC of a feature is the size of the feature where is
has the maximum amount of
material).
 With external features, like shafts, the MMC is
the largest size within the limits.
 With internal features, like holes, it is the
smallest size within the limits.
MAXIMUM-MATERIAL CONDITION
FOOL PROOFING
 Ensures that the part fits into the tool in its correct
position only.
 The simplest and most cost effective method is
positioning a fool proof pin.
DUPLICATE LOCATION
 Redundant, or duplicate, locators should be avoided.
MOTION ECONOMY
 It involves use of easy, quick and economic loading of
work pieces.
THE MECHANICS OF LOCATING
 A workpiece free in space can move in an infinite
number of directions. For analysis, this motion can be
broken down into twelve directional movements, or
"degrees of freedom."
3-2-1 LOCATING PRINCIPLE

3-2-1 principle may be stated as:

“To locate an object fully, place and

hold it against three points in a base
plane, two points in a vertical plane,
and one point in a plane,
perpendicular with the first two.”
3-2-1 LOCATING PRINCIPLE
3-2-1 LOCATING PRINCIPLE
3-2-1 LOCATING PRINCIPLE
 Motion is restricted using clamps and locators.
 A three pin base can restrict five motions.
Rotation about X,Y axes.(4 motions)
Translation along -ve z-axis (1 motion)
 Directions nine, ten and eleven are restricted
by a clamping device. (3 motions)
 To restrict the movement of the part
around the ZZ axis and in direction eight, two more pin
type locators are positioned in a vertical
plane.(3 motions)
 A single pin locator in vertical plane
restricts motion along direction 7.( 1 motion)
3-2-1 LOCATING PRINCIPLE
 Motion in all 12 directions are thus restricted.
 This is the most common locating method employed for
square or rectangular parts.
 Flat bases may also be used, but these should be installed
rather than machining into the base.
 But pin/button type locators offers more accuracy as the
area of contact is less. Moreover, they raise the work
above the base so that chips wont interrupt the operation.
LOCATING METHODS:
 Locating from a Flat Surface:
There are three primary methods of locating work from a
flat surface:
 solidsupports
 adjustable supports,
 equalizing supports
SOLID SUPPORTS:
 Easiest and cheapest.
 Less accurate.

 Used where machined surface acts as a

locating point.
ADJUSTABLE SUPPORTS:
 Used where surfaces are uneven (casting, forging..)
 Threaded style is the easiest and more economical.

 Adjustable locators are normally used with one or more solid

locators to allow any adjustment needed to level the work.
EQUALIZING SUPPORTS:
 They provide equal support through two connected contact
points.
 As one point is depressed, the other raises and maintains contact
with the part.
 This feature is especially necessary on uneven cast surfaces.
TYPES OF LOCATORS
 Pin and button locator
 Rest pad and plates

 Diamond & round pin locator

 Nesting locator or cavity locator etc.

PIN AND BUTTON LOCATOR
 Locator used to support or hold the workpiece in position.
 Pins locators are longer and for horizontal locations. Button
locators shorter, vertical locations.
 Locating buttons-press fit and screwed(wear and tear more
– replaceable)
PIN AND BUTTON LOCATOR
REST PADS AND PLATES
 Used with heavier and larger workpiece.
 To support and locate the work vertically.
DIAMOND PIN LOCATOR
 Work piece with the drilled holes use
two round pins
 If dimension variation between center to
center distance of the holes, one round
and diamond pin locators are used
 Prevents movement around the pin and
are relieved on two sides to allow
variation
DIAMOND PIN LOCATOR
 There are other ways of utilizing diamond locating pins.
This is one example, where you need to perfectly align
the center of the part, but the angular orientation is not
critical.
NESTING LOCATOR OR CAVITY
LOCATOR
 Used to position the work piece
 Accurate method for profile location

 No need of supplementary locating devices

 But it is difficult to lift out of cavity

 Common types:-
 Ring nest
 Full nest
 Nesting/Cavity Locating
The nesting method of locating features a cavity in the
work holding device into which the w/p is placed and
located.
Limitations of nesting:
a) Since the w/p is completely surrounded in the
cavity, it is often difficult to lift it out from the
nest.
b) Chips from the cutting operation may lodge in
the nest which must be removed before
locating the next w/p. Any chips remaining may
interfere with the proper positioning of the next
work piece.
c) Ejecting device may be needed.
 V-Locator for cylindrical workpiece
In case of a cylindrical object 3-2-1 method will restrict 7 degrees of
freedom instead of 9 in case of a rectangular workpiece.
3-2-1 Method applied to cylindrical w/p:
a) Horizontal plane restricts movement in 2
rotational freedom around X axis and the
downward freedom along Y axis.

b) Vertical plane restricts 2 rotational freedoms

around Y axis and the leftward movement
along X axis.

c) The pin that forms the end stop restricts 1

freedom .i.e forward movement along the z
axis.
V- Location method