{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,1]],"date-time":"2025-11-01T02:34:31Z","timestamp":1761964471615,"version":"3.41.2"},"reference-count":19,"publisher":"Emerald","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2013,6,14]],"date-time":"2013-06-14T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1371168000000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/www.emerald.com\/insight\/site-policies"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2013,6,14]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Purpose<\/jats:title><jats:p>The use of thin sheets with 3D geometries is growing in quantity, due to current progress towards life\u2010cycle design and sustainable production, and growing in geometrical complexity, due to aesthetic and quality concerns. The growth in manufacturing equipment flexibility has not kept pace with these trends. The purpose of this paper is to propose a new reconfigurable fixture to shorten this gap.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Design\/methodology\/approach<\/jats:title><jats:p>The design implements a novel concept of fixturing. Without interrupting the machining process, a swarm of adaptable mobile agents periodically reposition and reconfigure to support the thin\u2010sheet workpiece near the tool\u2010point. The technology has been developed by adopting a multi\u2010disciplinary, life\u2010cycle approach. Modularity and eco\u2010sustainability paradigms have informed the design.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Findings<\/jats:title><jats:p>The performance of the physical prototype in an industrial scenario is highly satisfactory. Experiments demonstrate the ability of the system to reconfigure while maintaining machining accuracy in scenarios typical for aircraft part production.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Research limitations\/implications<\/jats:title><jats:p>Coordination between the machine\u2010tool numerical control and the fixture control is not complete and its improvement will make the manufacturing process more robust and autonomous.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Practical implications<\/jats:title><jats:p>The system allows reduction of shop\u2010floor fixturing inventory. Compared to other reconfigurable fixtures, SwarmItFIX is smarter, more flexible, lighter, and offers shorter reconfiguration times, easier set\u2010up, and better adaptability to a wider range of workpiece shapes.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Originality\/value<\/jats:title><jats:p>This is a breakthrough idea, answering the challenges of hyper\u2010flexible manufacturing and the proliferation of thin\u2010sheet use. It is of significant value to mass\u2010customized industry and of special significance for small\u2010series production.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1108\/01439911311320822","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2013,6,6]],"date-time":"2013-06-06T08:20:08Z","timestamp":1370506808000},"page":"320-328","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":28,"title":["SwarmItFIX: a multi\u2010robot\u2010based reconfigurable fixture"],"prefix":"10.1108","volume":"40","author":[{"given":"Luis","family":"de Leonardo","sequence":"first","affiliation":[]},{"given":"Matteo","family":"Zoppi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]},{"given":"Li","family":"Xiong","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]},{"given":"Dimiter","family":"Zlatanov","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]},{"given":"Rezia M.","family":"Molfino","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]}],"member":"140","reference":[{"key":"key2022012820082621000_b1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Aoyama, T. and Kakinuma, Y. (2005), \u201cDevelopment of fixture devices for thin and compliant workpieces\u201d, CIRP Annals \u2013 Manufacturing Technology, Vol. 54 No. 1, pp. 325\u2010328.","DOI":"10.1016\/S0007-8506(07)60114-0"},{"key":"key2022012820082621000_b2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Arzanpour, S., Fung, J., Mills, J.K. and Cleghorn, W.L. (2006), \u201cFlexible fixture design with applications to assembly of sheet metal automotive body parts\u201d, Assembly Automation, Vol. 26 No. 2, pp. 143\u2010153.","DOI":"10.1108\/01445150610658130"},{"key":"key2022012820082621000_b3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Bi, Z.M. and Zhang, W.J. (2001), \u201cFlexible fixture design and automation: review, issues and future directions\u201d, International Journal of Production Research, Vol. 39 No. 13, pp. 2867\u20102894.","DOI":"10.1080\/00207540110054579"},{"key":"key2022012820082621000_b4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Bi, Z.M., Lang, S., Verner, M. and Orban, P. 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