Simultaneous optimization of fixture and joint positions for non-rigid sheet metal assembly

This paper presents an optimization methodology for non-rigid sheet metal assembly variation by considering part variation, fixture variation, fixture layout, and joint positions, as well as the assembly spring back. The proposed algorithm integrates the finite element analysis (FEA) with a powerful global optimization algorithm, called the mode-pursuing sampling (MPS) method to simultaneously search for the optimal fixture and joint positions in order to minimize the assembly variation. An example application study is presented to demonstrate the optimization procedure and its effectiveness.