As outlined by Reid Supply in their article “What are Jigs and Fixtures?”, jigs and fixtures are fundamental tools in manufacturing, often used interchangeably—but they serve distinct roles. Jigs guide cutting tools during machining, while fixtures hold workpieces firmly in place without guiding the tool.
Jigs are typically used for one-dimensional operations such as drilling, tapping, reaming, and counterboring. A classic example is a drill bushing, which ensures hole accuracy by guiding the drill bit precisely through the workpiece. While modern CNC machines often eliminate the need for jigs by digitally storing tool paths, they are still vital in manual machining environments, especially in smaller shops or for producing custom components.
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Article with all rights reserved, courtesy of Reid Supply — https://www.reidsupply.com/