LOCATION and SIX DEGREES OF FREEDOM

 LOCATION 

 INTRODUCTION

When a work piece is placed upon a machine table, spindle or other holding 

device it must be correctly positioned relative to the table or cutter feed before it is 

clamped. It is the duty of the location system to provide the necessary constraint so that 

the work piece is correctly located; it is also necessary to foolproof the location system so 

that there is no chance of incorrect location.

THE SIX DEGREES OF FREEDOM  

illustrates a body that is completely free in space. When in this conditions the body has six degrees of freedom. Consider the freedom of the body with respect to the three mutually perpendicular axes X-X, Y -Y and Z-Z.

The body can: 

1) Move along axis Y-Y

2) Move along axis X-X

3) Move along axis Z-Z

These are the three freedoms of 

translation.

The body can also:

4) Rotate about axis Y-Y 

5) Rotate about axis X-X

6) Rotate about axis Z-Z

These are the three freedoms of rotation.

The six degree of freedom