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What Is Jig & Fixture Design?

Jig and fixtures are manufacturing tools that are used to produce identical and interchangeable components. These workholding and tool guiding devices are designed for use in the machining and assembly of parts.

To get the greatest benefit from jigs and fixtures, a basic understanding of their construction is necessary. Jigs and fixtures are identified one of two ways: either by the machine with which they are identified or by their basic construction. A jig, for instance, may be referred to as a “drill jig.”

But if it is made from a flat plate, it may also be called a “plate jig.” Likewise, a mill fixture made from an angle plate may also be called an “angle-plate fixture.” The best place to begin a discussion of jig and fixture construction is with the base element of all workholders, the tool body.

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Advantages of Jigs and Fixtures

In manufacturing operations, it's important to meet the higher demands of customers. This means producing quality products as fast and efficiently as possible. Jigs and fixtures help make manufacturing processes more efficient and precise.

By utilizing jigs and fixtures in machining processes, manufacturers benefit from:

• increased production
• decreased manufacturing costs
• improved product consistency
• improved assembly line safety
• a reduction in non-productive hours
• reasonable automation capabilities
• interchangeability and accuracy

Jigs vs. Fixtures: What's the Difference?

While jigs and fixtures work together, these are two distinct tools used in mass production processes. The two terms are often used incorrectly as synonyms but serve different purposes.

A jig controls and guides the cutting tool to work at a predefined location on a workpiece. Fixtures are used for supporting and locating a workpiece. Fixtures do not guide the tool on a workpiece like a jig.

Jigs are typically lighter than fixtures, which need additional force to stand up to cutting force and vibration. While fixtures require clamping and accessories, a jig can be held or fixed to a table depending on the application.

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Advantages of Using Jigs and Fixtures

There are many advantages of using the jig and fixture in any machining operation. Below are a few important ones:

• Better Productivity and Efficiency. Because the two tools eliminate a workpiece’s alignment, a machine’s idle time is reduced, which improves productivity and efficiency.
• Decreases Manufacturing Cost. Their use decreases the product manufacturing cost while increasing productivity and quality. We have article discussing the CNC machining cost, and you can see it.
• Improvement in Quality of Product. They remove the need for machinists to manually set parts apart during operation. Therefore, this removes the human chance of creating errors and improves quality.
• Easy to Manufacture Complex and Heavy Tools. They enable machinists to manufacture heavy and complex-shaped parts easily. This is because the two tools hold the workpiece rigidly during the machining operation.
• Improves Safety. Since the jig and fixture are directly involved in the workpiece and machine, they remove the involvement of humans, thereby increasing safety.
• If you want to start your CNC machining project, the leading CNC machining service provider – RapidDirect is your best partner. We focus on creating precision parts at competitive pricing. We also can help you manufacture jigs and fixtures.

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