Tooling Moves Where the Crane Does Not Reach

Aerospace shops, aviation tooling suppliers and maintenance operations rely on overhead cranes, but crane rails cover a fixed area. Fixtures, jigs and workholding frames stored outside that area need a second handling method, and every transfer between crane and floor transport introduces a set-down and pick-up cycle that quality teams treat as a risk.

This 12 inch Mecanum wheel platform, rated at 3,000 kg total load, is specified for that intermediate role. It carries tooling between storage, machining cells, metrology rooms and assembly stations, and it positions loads with in-place rotation and lateral travel so that a fixture can be aligned to a datum instead of being manoeuvred into place.

Handling Logic

• Rotation on the vehicle's own centre, so long fixtures can be turned where the corridor is narrower than the workpiece
• Lateral and diagonal travel for square approach to metrology and assembly interfaces
• Heavy load deck with fixture mounting points and optional damping layer
• Low deck height relative to load, keeping the centre of gravity predictable
• Manual pendant for first-article positioning, automatic playback for repeat routes

Specification Summary

Applications

1. Jig and fixture transfer between crib and machining cell
2. Assembly frame movement between stations and inspection
3. Component positioning for NDT and dimensional inspection
4. Ground support equipment movement in maintenance hangars

Configuration Notes for Project Orders

Aerospace projects usually specify the deck to the customer's fixture drawing rather than taking a standard plate, and documentation, traceability of drive components and acceptance test records are commonly part of the package. Both single-unit evaluation orders and multi-unit project orders are supported, with OEM and ODM terms available where the vehicle becomes part of an integrator's own product line.

How Project Orders Are Structured

Typical aerospace and heavy fixture programmes run in stages: one evaluation platform, a verification period on the customer's own fixtures, then a batch order once the deck design is frozen. Delivery can cover a complete vehicle, a chassis with a fixture built to drawing, or a Mecanum wheel kit for an existing frame. Capacity is engineered from 100 kg to 5,000 kg, and this 12 inch platform covers 3,000 kg. Acceptance test records, component traceability and OEM or ODM branding terms are available where the programme requires them.

Quoted tolerances are platform capabilities. Positioning performance on real fixtures depends on deck stiffness, load distribution and floor condition, and is confirmed during commissioning.