No matter what a company makes in its factories, workers are likely to use special jigs and fixtures on the assembly line to complete the manufacturing process. Jigs and fixtures represent a huge opportunity for additive manufacturing to increase efficiency and reduce production costs. But what exactly is a jig and how is it different from a fixture?
A jig is a custom tool that controls the movement and position of another tool or action to help assemble larger products. Common examples are drill guides and jigs for drilling holes at precise locations and angles, and routers for perfectly chamfered edges.
A fixture is a stand or platform used to hold parts securely in place during production or assembly, and used for post-processing quality control (go/no-go gauges) to ensure finished parts meet the tolerances of final assembly.
3D printing jigs and fixtures
• Support lean manufacturing strategies with on-demand 3D printed manufacturing tools. Custom tools created directly from CAD can be up and running in as little as one day.
• Reduce the time and cost of creating traditional tools and improve performance and accuracy.
• Print complex jigs and fixtures not possible with traditional machining and manufacturing.
In any large-scale manufacturing environment, both are necessary for high-quality production. 3D printing Fixtures provide workers with the accuracy and repeatability to efficiently produce components that meet manufacturing standards. 3D printing Fixtures allow a range of different parts to be manufactured to the correct specifications and ensure consistent quality in each finished part, reducing costs.