// ROBOTICS AND SMART FACTORIES TERM
Jig
A custom device used in manufacturing to hold a workpiece securely in place and guide a tool for specific operations like drilling or cutting.
TECHNICAL DEFINITION
A jig is a custom-designed manufacturing tool that holds a workpiece and guides a cutting or machining tool, ensuring accuracy, repeatability, and interchangeability of parts during production processes.
BACKGROUND
Tool and die makers are highly skilled crafters working in the manufacturing industries. Tool and die makers work primarily in toolroom environments—sometimes literally in one room but more often in an environment with flexible, semipermeable boundaries from production work. They are skilled artisans (craftspeople) who typically learn their trade through a combination of academic coursework and with substantial period of on-the-job training that is functionally an apprenticeship. They make jigs, fixtures, dies, molds, machine tools, cutting tools, gauges, and other tools used in manufacturing processes.
READ MORE ON WIKIPEDIASYNONYMS & ALIASES
- Fixture
- Guide
- Template
- Workholder
- Drill jig
USAGE NOTE
Jigs reduce setup time and improve precision in repetitive manufacturing tasks.
DEVELOPERS
Organizations developing technology related to Jig.
Develops augmented reality technology that projects visual work instructions directly onto an employee's work surface. This creates a 'virtual jig' by using light to guide manual assembly, inspection, and training processes without physical fixtures.
Manufactures industrial 3D printers that produce parts from composites and metals. Their technology is widely used to rapidly design and print custom, durable jigs, fixtures, and other manufacturing aids directly on the factory floor, reducing lead times and costs.
A global leader in 3D printing and additive manufacturing solutions. The company provides materials and printers specifically for creating jigs and fixtures, enabling manufacturers to produce lightweight, ergonomic, and complex tools that improve production efficiency.
Provides a no-code manufacturing platform that allows engineers to create interactive applications for shop floor operators. These apps can integrate with sensors and tools to create 'smart jigs' that guide processes, verify steps, and collect data in real-time.
A software company that provides the Vuforia Augmented Reality (AR) platform. Vuforia is used to create AR work instructions that overlay digital information and 3D models onto the physical world, serving as a dynamic virtual jig for complex assembly and service tasks.
An engineering firm offering drive and control technologies. Their ActiveAssist system is a smart workstation solution that uses projectors, cameras, and sensors to guide workers through assembly steps, effectively creating an interactive digital jigging system.
Through its HoloLens 2 mixed reality headset and Dynamics 365 Guides software, Microsoft provides a platform for creating holographic work instructions. This technology allows operators to see and interact with 3D digital guides overlaid on physical equipment, functioning as an advanced, hands-free virtual jig.