Jig vs Fixture

The human hand is designed to perform tasks that are necessary for everyday life; it is at the same time created for the purpose of holding items or tools which aid in making tasks easier and faster to do. Two of the most widely used tools that man uses are a jig and a fixture.

A jig is a cutting machine work tool for metalwork and woodwork that is designed to guide and control the location and movement of another tool. Using it is time and cost effective, and it is very accurate and adaptable to all types of drilling locations. Jigs are created by tradesmen and craftsmen to enable them to do repeated tasks more easily and precisely while at the same time increasing their productivity. They are also called templates or guides and have been in use since before the Industrial Age.

Instead of using square scribers, height gauges, center punches, and other tools, jigs are utilized as they enable workers to do their jobs in less time thus increasing their productivity. An example of how a jig is used is in key duplication wherein the original is used as a jig to form a pattern or mold for the duplicate key. There are several types of jigs, some of which are: PCB jigs, machining jigs, woodworking jigs, welding jigs, jeweler jigs, and drill jigs which are the most commonly used jigs. Examples of drill jigs are: box jig, sandwich jig, angle plate jig, and channel jig.

Jigs are often used synonymously with fixtures, and they are referred to together as a jig and fixture. A fixture, though, is a totally separate tool. It is different from a jig in that it is designed only to hold the workpiece and the machine bed to their locations while the jig is used to hold and guide the tool. It aligns and puts the workpiece firmly in place to allow for easier and faster completion of a machine operation or industrial process. Unlike a jig, a fixture does not directly come in contact with a cutting tool, and it is individually designed to fit a certain shape or part.

There are two types of fixtures: general purpose fixtures such as vises and chucks which are more expensive but can be used for a variety of workpieces; and special purpose fixtures which are specifically designed for a certain workpiece.

Together, jigs and fixtures greatly increase productivity while at the same time decreasing costs allowing for the production of high-quality products which are made according to specifications. Efficiency is maximized while errors are reduced.

Summary:

1.A jig is a machining tool that is used to guide and control the location and movement of another tool while a fixture is a machining tool that is used to hold a workpiece firmly in place.
2.Both jigs and fixtures are used to reduce work time and increase productivity; while a fixture aligns the workpiece, a jig acts as a pattern or guide.
3.There are two types of fixtures; general purpose and special purpose while there are several types of jigs; drill, machining, jeweler, etc.

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